EFFECT OF PARTICIPATION IN CONGREGATE-SITE MEAL PROGRAMS ON NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OR THE HEALTHY ELDERLY

Objective This study was designed to evaluate whether participation in a congregate-site meal program influenced the nutritional status of a group of healthy elderly. Design Nutritional status, as defined by di etary intake and biochemical indexes, was assessed in free-living pers ons (aged 60 to 89 years) who either did (n=70) or did not (n=65) part icipate in the meal program. Three-day mean intakes of 17 nutrients an d serum levels of 13 indexes of nutritional status were measured. Stat istical analyses Multifactorial analysis of variance was used to deter mine differences in nutrient intake data and biochemical indexes betwe en the groups. By means of correlation analysis, relationships between income and main outcome measures were examined. chi(2) Analysis was u sed to determine differences in response to categorical variables of t he questionnaire. Results In general, dietary intakes of participants did not differ significantly from those of nonparticipants, nor did th e meal provided at the site significantly affect the overall dietary i ntake of participants. Mean biochemical indexes of nutritional status were within normal ranges for participants and nonparticipants, except for iron. However, 26% of the population consumed diets that may plac e them at risk for nutritional inadequacy. Conclusions Mean dietary in take data and biochemical. indexes of nutritional status suggest that the congregate-site meal program did not significantly affect the nutr itional status of the population surveyed. Additional studies focusing on the nutritional intake and status of low-income, ethnic minority, and socially isolated participants in the congregate-site meal program are needed to assess which populations are at risk for nutritional de ficiencies.