Assessment of food consumption, energy and protein intake in the meals offered in four Spanish nursing homes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The elderly, and especially those attending nursing homes, are at great risk from certain nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to examine the percentage of energy wasted, energy and protein intake and percentage consumed of meal offered by a group of healthy institutionalized elderly in four nursing homes in Spain. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a multicentre observational study of a sample of the institutionalized population over the age of 65. Our final sample comprised a total of 62 individuals. Dietary data were collected using double weight method for each meal during 21 days. We calculated the following consumption variables: percentage of food consumed (% food consumed) for each subject in each meal. We also calculated the energy intake (kcal/day), the wasted energy (kcal/day), the protein intake (g protein/ day) and the energy density (kcal/g meal) for each of the meals eaten. To analyse the overall differences we used analysis of variance test (ANOVA). The significance level used was 0.05 (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The largest meals were lunch (781 g/day [728.4, 833.6]) and dinner (653 g/day [612.1, 693.9]). The percentage of total consumption was 81.9% [79.3, 84.6]. The average energy consumption was 1,575.4 kcal/day [1,508.3, 1,642.6]. The percentage of caloric distribution varied depending on the center. The highest percentage of wasted food was found in the main meals. Forty four percent did not consume enough energy to meet the recommended intakes. Protein intake was 63.6 g protein / day [61.2, 66.1]. 12.5% of women and 4.55% of men did not consume the recommended intakes for the elderly. Breakfast and the bedtime snack had the highest energy density with 1.10 [0.9, 1.25] and 1.04 [0.9, 1.08] kcal/g food served respectively [Energy density]. DISCUSION/CONCLUSIONS: The best strategy for increasing the energy intake of the institutionalized elderly without raising the amount of food that is rejected may be to provide higher energy density foods in the same serving sizes.

Assessment of food consumption, energy and protein intake in the meals offered in four Spanish nursing homes / Evaluación del consumo de alimentos, ingesta de proteínas y energía en las comidas ofrecidas en cuatro residencias geriátricas españolas

Background/objective: The elderly, and especially those attending nursing homes, are at great risk from certain nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to examine the percentage of energy wasted, energy and protein intake and percentage consumed of meal offered by a group of healthy institutionalized elderly in four nursing homes in Spain. Design and methods: This was a multicentre observational study of a sample of the institutionalized population over the age of 65. Our final sample comprised a total of 62 individuals. Dietary data were collected using double weight method for each meal during 21 days. We calculated the following consumption variables: percentage of food consumed (% food consumed) for each subject in each meal. We also calculated the energy intake (kcal/day), the wasted energy (kcal/day), the protein intake (g protein/ day) and the energy density (kcal/g meal) for each of the meals eaten. To analyse the overall differences we used analysis of variance test (ANOVA). The significance level used was 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: The largest meals were lunch (781 g/day [728.4, 833.6]) and dinner (653 g/day [612.1, 693.9]). The percentage of total consumption was 81.9% [79.3, 84.6]. The average energy consumption was 1,575.4 kcal/day [1,508.3, 1,642.6]. The percentage of caloric distribution varied depending on the center. The highest percentage of wasted food was found in the main meals. Forty four percent did not consume enough energy to meet the recommended intakes. Protein intake was 63.6 g protein / day [61.2, 66.1]. 12.5% of women and 4.55% of men did not consume the recommended intakes for the elderly. Breakfast and the bedtime snack had the highest energy density with 1.10 [0.9, 1.25] and 1.04 [0.9, 1.08] kcal/g food served respectively [Energy density]. Discusion/conclusions: The best strategy for increasing the energy intake of the institutionalized elderly without raising the amount of food that is rejected may be to provide higher energy density foods in the same serving sizes (AU)

Antecedentes/objetivos: Los ancianos, y especialmente los institucionalizados en residencias geriátricas, tiene un elevado riesgo de sufrir deficiencias nutricionales importantes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el porcentaje de comida consumida en cada ingesta así como la ingesta total energética y proteica en un grupo de ancianos sanos institucionalizados en cuatro residencias geriátricas de España. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional multicéntrico en una muestra de población anciana (edad > 65 años) institucionalizada. La muestra final incluyó un total de 62 individuos sanos. Los datos de consumo se evaluaron mediante el método de registro de doble pesada para cada comida durante un período de 21 días consecutivos. Se calcularon las variables: porcentaje de consumo de alimentos (% ración consumida) para cada individuo en cada comida. También se calculó el consumo de energía (kcal/día), la energía desperdiciada (kcal/día), la ingesta de proteínas y la densidad calórica de las comidas (kcal/g ingesta). Para analizar las diferencias se llevó a cabo un análisis de la varianza (ANOVA). El nivel de significación usado fue de 0,05 (p < 0,05). Resultados: Las comidas más voluminosas fueron el almuerzo (781 g/día) [728,4-833,6] y la cena (653 g/día [612,1-693,9]. El porcentaje de consumo total fue del 81,9% [79,3-84,6]. El consumo de medio de energía fue de 1.575,4 kcal/día [1.508,3-1.642,6]. El porcentaje de distribución calórica varió en función de cada centro. El mayor porcentaje de desperdicio de alimentos fue en las comidas principales (almuerzo y cena). 44% de los ancianos no cubrían las recomendaciones energéticas establecidas. La ingesta de proteínas fue del 63,6 g proteína/día [61,266,1]. Un 12,5% de las mujeres y un 4,55 de los hombres no cubrieron las ingestas recomendadas de proteínas. Discusión/conclusiones: En vista de los resultados, probablemente una buena estrategia para mejorar el consumo de energía y nutrientes y reducir los porcentajes de comida desperdiciada entre los ancianos institucionalizados podría ser planificar comidas menos voluminosas y con una densidad energética y nutricional más elevada (AU)