Fruit and vegetable intake behaviour among elderly patients attending routine out-patient clinic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and objectives: As human body gets older, it’s nutritional and health needs change due to increasing susceptibility to degenerative diseases. The elderly population is one demographic group at risk of inadequate dietary intake and micro-nutrient deficiencies, due to physiological changes such as reduce efficiency of the gastrointestinal tract and loss of appetite due to decline sensory perception. Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients and nutritive compounds, considered vital for healthy as it improves micro-nutrient status. Failure to meet daily recommended intakes may result in micro-nutrient deficiencies, hence the need for this assessment in this important population of Ghanaian. The study sought to investigate and collect data on fruits and vegetable intake among elderly patients attending routine out-patient clinic in a teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana. Methods: A cross sectional study, involving one hundred and fifty (150) ≥60+ year old subjects purposely sampled. Old and fragile subjects with complicated medical conditions with severe nutritional consequences/implications and with severe memory and cognitive impairments were excluded. A validated FFQ and two day 24hr dietary recall (a weekday and a weekend) were used to assess frequency and nutrient adequacy of fruits and vegetables intake respectively. Dietary data was analyzed using FAO in-food composition database and MICRODIET software version 3.0 (Downlee, UK). Pearson correlation and ANOVA were used to test for associations of variables of interest using SPSS version 20.0.All data were two-tail and statistically significant set at p≤0.05. Results: Though majority alluded to fruits (83.9%) and vegetables (83.2%) intake because of their health benefits, mean daily servings of fruits and vegetables consumed were 1.49±1.66 and 2.22±1.17 respectively. Mean total daily caloric (1331.53±663.77Kcal), fibre (9.03±7.25g) and most micro-nutrient intakes were low. Educational level was significantly associated with fruit and vegetable intake (p≤0.04), as subject disease conditions significantly correlated with their vegetable intake (F=0.55; P< 0.01) Conclusions: Most participants did not meet WHO recommended daily intake of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and this may result in micro-nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, health facilities must aim at educating patients on the benefits of fruits and vegetables via health promotion out-patient daily talks in order to promote frequent and adequate intakes