Determinants of macronutrient intake in elderly people

An understanding of the determinants of nutritional intake may be helpful i n the early detection and prevention of malnutrition. A Vast amount of lite rature exists on factors influencing daily energy or food intake. Although far less is known about population and subject characteristics influencing the macronutrient composition of the diet, associations appear to exist wit h cultural factors, snacking and disease. The literature does not provide s ufficient evidence in support of relationships with other factors such as l iving situation, dentition, disability, depression and drug use, partly bec ause information on determinants of macronutrient intake is scarce.