Perceived chewing ability and intake of fruit and vegetables.

Edentulous individuals have reduced chewing ability and lower fruit and vegetable consumption compared with dentate individuals. It has been suggested that the two are causally related. However, psychosocial factors such as attitude, self-identity, and knowledge of recommendations are predictive of intake in non-edentulous persons. The aims of this study were to: determine if perceived chewing ability was predictive of fruit and vegetable intake; explore the predictive ability of knowledge, attitude, and self-identity; and compare intake between edentulous and dentate individuals. Full denture-wearing (N = 79) and dentate persons (N = 52) completed a three-day food diary. Perceived chewing ability, sociodemographic, and psychosocial factors were assessed via self-administered questionnaire. The dentate persons consumed significantly more fruit and vegetables, but differences were not significant when juices were excluded. Perceived chewing ability explained approximately 4% variance in intake. Attitude, self-identity, and knowledge explained a further approximately 20%. If the diet of denture-wearers is to be improved, psychosocial factors, as well as perceived chewing ability, must be addressed.

The nutrition knowledge of older adults living in sheltered housing accommodation.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition knowledge enables informed dietary choices. This paper reports on the nutrition knowledge of older adults residing in sheltered housing accommodation in socially deprived areas of north-east England. METHOD: As part of a cluster randomized dietary intervention trial, a validated questionnaire measured the knowledge of current dietary recommendations, nutrient sources, ability to select healthy meal options and knowledge of associations between diet and diseases of older adults aged 60 years and over residing in sheltered accommodation. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were obtained from 177 (59%) subjects (147 female, 30 male), of whom 76% were overweight/obese and 2% underweight. The mean (SD) age was 76.4 (8.0) years. Of a possible score of 47, the mean score was 23.2, indicating that approximately 50% of questions were answered incorrectly. Knowledge of associations between diet and diseases was particularly poor; 90% of subjects being unaware of the benefits of high fruit and vegetable consumption. Respondents in the highest 10% of the nutrition knowledge score had a significantly higher intake of fruit and vegetables compared with those in the lowest 10%. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of older adults had little basic nutrition knowledge; this presents a barrier to healthier eating that should be addressed.