MACRONUTRIENT INTAKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN OLDER COLOREDSOUTH-AFRICANS

A cross-sectional analytical study was undertaken to investigate the m acronutrient intake and cardiovascular risk factor profile of communit y-dwelling older coloured (mixed descent) South Africans, A sample of 200 subjects aged 65 years and above in Cape Town was randomly drawn u sing a two-stage cluster design, Trained fieldworkers interviewed subj ects to obtain demographic, dietary and life-style data, to draw fasti ng blood samples for the analysis of plasma lipids, and to take anthro pometric measurements. Nutrient intake was assessed using a validated quantified food frequency questionnaire, Blood pressure was measured a ccording to the guidelines of the American Heart Association, The mean daily energy intake was 7 984 (3 245) kJ and 6 979 (2219) kJ for men and women, respectively, Twenty-nine per cent of the subjects had ener gy intakes less than two-thirds of the RDA, Dietary fat intake compris ed 32.4% of total energy intake, which is in line with the prudent die tary guidelines, The inadequate fibre intake (mean = 17(8) g/day) was attributed to the low consumption of fruit and vegetables, Anthropomet ric assessment indicated that the women tended towards overnutrition, while the men appeared to be undernourished, Lipid profiles fell withi n the lower end of the moderate risk band for cardiovascular disease a nd a high prevalence of hypertension (71.7%) was identified, The surve y findings indicate a need for health promotion activities to encourag e increased physical activity levels and an increased consumption of v egetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals and low fat dairy products in thi s population.