国民健康・栄養調査からみた日本人高齢者の食物摂取状況と低栄養の現状

抄録

Nutrition is an essential element of health in older adults and affects the aging process. Using a dataset from the 2003-2011 National Health and Nutritional Survey Japan, we analyzed dietary intake and the prevalence of undernutrition among Japanese elderly adults. To determine the prevalence of undernourished elderly, undernutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) less than 20 or a serum albumin level less than 4.0. Dietary intake was assessed with a 1-d semi-weighed dietary record. In a pooled analysis of data from 2003-2011, we calculated changes in the prevalence of undernourished elderly during that 9-year period and estimated linear changes in dietary intake according to age. Prevalence was 15.4% to 18.0% (average 16.8%) for BMI and 8.0% to 16.2% (average 11.5%) for albumin and remained relatively constant during the 9-year period. The prevalence of undernutrition was highest among adults aged 80 years or older. Furthermore, energy intake and intakes of several nutrients and food groups decreased with age in men and women. Our findings suggest that undernutrition in older adults is associated with inadequate intakes of several foods and nutrients. An effective intervention strategy to prevent undernutrition among elderly Japanese is thus urgently needed.