ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The information available on food intake in the elderly in Chile is restricted to individuals of low socioeconomic groups, but there is no data available on food intake in elderly of higher income groups. AIM: To assess food intake in a group of elderly people from Providencia County in Santiago, a middle income community. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty one subjects (20 male), aged 60 to 73 years, were studied. Trained volunteers applied a 3 days food registry, to determine food intake. Intake was assessed using 1985 FAO/OMS/UNU recommendations for energy intake and USA Food and Nutrition Board recommendations for micronutrient intake. RESULTS: The studied subjects had an adequate macronutrient intake, when compared with current recommendations. There was a relatively low intake of calories from fat (24.6 per cent in males and 26.1 per cent in females). Also, vitamin and mineral intake was adequate with the exception of calcium (64.5 per cent and 57.9 per cent of recommendation in males and in females respectively), zinc and folic acid (74.2 per cent and 62.4 per cent in males and females respectively). The intake of legumes and cereals was relatively low. CONCLUSIONS: Food intake in this group of individuals was substantially higher than that reported previously for poor elderly Chileans and similar to that of industrialized countries. Food intake of the elderly is probably related to socioeconomic level.