Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.48(6) > 1081423

Lee, Lee, Oh, and Cho: Nutritional and health consequences are associated with food insecurity among Korean elderly: Based on the fifth (2010) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1)

Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of food insecurity in Korean elderly and to analyze the health status as well as food and nutrient intakes according to food insecurity status.

Methods:

A total of 939 elderly subjects (over 65 years old) were used in our analysis from the fifth 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1). The variables consisted of general characteristics, physical and mental health, nutrient intake, rate of deficient intake of energy and nutrients compared with Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) and food quality and diversity according to the status of food insecurity. Food insecurity status was measured using a self-reported food security questionnaire on the dietary situation in the previous year, and participants were classified according to three groups: food secure group, mildly food insecure group, and moderately/severely food insecure group.

Results:

The proportion of the food insecure group was approximately 67% and the food insecure group had lower income and educational status than the food secure group. Food insecurity was associated with worse physical and mental health status after adjusting potentially confounding variables. The results showed that food insecurity in Korean elderly significantly affected mental health (including stress cognition, depression experience, and suicide thoughts) which exceeded stages of physical health. In addition, food insecurity showed significant association with low nutrient intake and high rate of deficient intakes of energy and nutrients compared with KDRIs, and a reduction of dietary quality and diversity was indicated in the food insecure group.

Conclusion:

This study concludes that the prevalence of food insecurity may affect the physical and mental health as well as dietary intake of the elderly Korean population. Therefore, food insecurity should be considered as an important public health issue in Korea.

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Table 1.
General characteristics of the subjects according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) Total (n = 939) p-value1)
Gender
  Male 156 (47.62)2) 259 (41.38) 21 (34.94) 436 (43.19) 0.0611
  Female 171 (52.38) 303 (58.62) 29 (65.06) 503 (56.81)
  Age (years) 72.21 ± 0.433)a4) 72.19 ± 0.33a 74.03 ± 0.73b 72.27 ± 0.28 0.04655)
  ≥ 65 years 327 (33.1) 562 (61.4) 50 (5.5) 939 (100.0) -
The presence of a spouse
  No 83 (26.65) 170 (38.42) 27 (54.88) 280 (35.23) 0.0021
  Yes 244 (73.35) 392 (61.58) 23 (45.12) 659 (64.77)
Education
  ≤ Elementary school 175 (61.51) 376 (71.84) 41 (85.97) 592 (68.69)  
  Middle school 46 (12.66) 77 (10.82) 2 (4.25) 125 (11.09) 0.0070
  ≥ High school 106 (27.27) 109 (17.34) 7 (9.78) 222 (20.22)  
Economic status
  Low 51 (15.40) 161 (29.77) 23 (40.69) 235 (25.38)  
  Middle-low 61 (18.04) 136 (21.98) 18 (40.32) 215 (21.62) < .0001
  Middle-high 95 (28.71) 142 (23.96) 7 (13.41) 244 (25.03)
  High 120 (37.85) 123 (24.29) 2 (5.58) 245 (27.97)  
Type of family
  Living alone 33 (8.72) 76 (12.43) 23 (42.23) 132 (12.77)  
  1 generation with others 161 (46.53) 274 (41.76) 18 (36.25) 453 (43.12) 0.0866
  2 or 3 generations with unmarried children 84 (29.38) 135 (27.83) 5 (14.71) 224 (27.65)
  2 or 3 generations etc. 49 (15.37) 77 (17.97) 4 (6.81) 130 (16.46)  

1) p-value from chi-square test

2) n (weighted %)

3) Age- and sex-adjusted mean ± SD

4) a, b: Means with different superscripts are significantly different by Tukey's multiple range test

5) p-value from ANOVA

Table 2.
Physical health of the subjects according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) p-value1)
Physical health
  Obesity 1.00 0.91 (0.63 - 1.30)2) 0.86 (0.39 - 1.91) 0.8282
  Abdominal obesity 1.00 1.03 (0.77 - 1.39) 0.95 (0.52 - 1.73) 0.9552
  Hypertension 1.00 1.08 (0.71 - 1.63) 1.95 (0.98 - 3.89) 0.1627
  Elevated triglycerides 1.00 1.19 (0.83 - 1.69) 0.80 (0.34 - 1.92) 0.4022
  Low HDL cholesterol 1.00 1.12 (0.82 - 1.54) 1.30 (0.70 - 2.39) 0.6541
  Diabetes 1.00 0.86 (0.55 - 1.33) 0.83 (0.35 - 1.94) 0.7588
  Metabolic syndrome3) 1.00 0.95 (0.68 - 1.33) 1.34 (0.70 - 2.58) 0.5682

1) p-value from multiple logistic regression analysis 2) OR (95% CI), ORs from FI 1, FI 2 relative to the FS 3) Metabolic syndrome (MS) is diagnosed by the modified NCEP ATP III criteria (any 3 of 5 constitutes, for waist circumstances ≥ 90 cm in men, ≥ 85 cm in women, for blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg systolic blood pressure or ≥ 85 mmHg diastolic blood pressure or on antihypertensive drug treatment, for triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dL or on drug treatment for elevated triglyceride, for HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL in men, < 50 mg/dL in women or on drug treatment for reduced HDL-cholesterol, for fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL or on drug treatment for elevated glucose).

Table 3.
Mental health of the subjects according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) p-value1)
Mental health
  Stress cognition 1.00 1.69 (1.13 - 2.53)2) 3.81 (1.78 - 8.12) 0.0009
  Depression experience 1.00 1.38 (0.82 - 2.30) 3.19 (1.52 - 6.72) 0.0091
  Suicide thoughts 1.00 2.20 (1.44 - 3.38) 2.14 (1.01 - 4.56) 0.0013

1) p-value from multiple logistic regression analysis

2) OR (95% CI), ORs from FI 1, FI 2 relative to the FS

Table 4.
Nutrients intake and CPF ratio of the subjects according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) Total (n = 939) p-value1)
CPF ratio
  Carbohydrate (%) 74.70 ± 0.592) 76.23 ± 0.49 76.00 ± 1.89 75.99 ± 0.39 0.1073
  Protein (%) 13.57 ± 0.22a3) 12.51 ± 0.17b 12.52 ± 0.43b 12.76 ± 0.14 0.0002
  Fat (%) 11.73 ± 0.44 11.26 ± 0.38 11.48 ± 1.51 11.24 ± 0.29 0.6870
Nutrients intake
  Energy (kcal) 1,823.12 ± 38.72 1,739.63 ± 35.05 1,692.09 ± 106.03 1,726.48 ± 28.86 0.2370
  Carbohydrate (g) 184.03 ± 1.76 188.14 ± 1.43 186.57 ± 4.94 187.77 ± 1.10 0.1726
  Protein (g) 33.26 ± 0.57a 30.73 ± 0.42b 30.55 ± 1.04b 31.41 ± 0.35 0.0005
  Fat (g) 12.78 ± 0.47 12.27 ± 0.40 12.41 ± 1.66 12.28 ± 0.31 0.6660
  Fiber (g) 4.52 ± 0.25 4.07 ± 0.12 3.81 ± 0.28 4.18 ± 0.12 0.1080
  Calcium (mg) 285.62 ± 13.45a 238.27 ± 8.71b 230.91 ± 25.77b 253.36 ± 7.13 0.0134
  Phosphorus (mg) 612.46 ± 9.67a 570.33 ± 6.33b 572.41 ± 11.36b 582.96 ± 5.38 0.0009
  Iron (mg) 8.73 ± 0.47a 8.20 ± 0.61ab 6.78 ± 0.58b 8.31 ± 0.42 0.0184
  Sodium (mg) 2,505.60 ± 113.47 2,483.11 ± 80.79 2,390.47 ± 226.42 2,468.73 ± 61.82 0.8853
  Potassium (mg) 1,558.30 ± 48.30a 1,467.91 ± 27.77a 1,331.82 ± 42.16b 1,481.48 ± 25.00 0.0008
  Vitamin A (μgRE) 384.34 ± 36.97 335.02 ± 19.19 283.31 ± 25.28 349.04 ± 20.06 0.0794
  Vitamin B1 (mg) 0.63 ± 0.02a 0.58 ± 0.01b 0.58 ± 0.02b 0.59 ± 0.01 0.0126
  Vitamin B2 (mg) 0.53 ± 0.02a 0.47 ± 0.01b 0.46 ± 0.03b 0.48 ± 0.01 0.0034
  Niacin (mg) 7.76 ± 0.16a 7.41 ± 0.12b 7.55 ± 0.27ab 7.48 ± 0.10 0.1383
  Vitamin C (mg) 49.87 ± 2.46 48.86 ± 2.05 45.47 ± 4.30 48.44 ± 1.60 0.5798

1) p-value from ANOVA

2) Age- and sex- adjusted mean ± SD

3) a, b : Means with different superscripts are significantly different by Tukey's multiple range test.

Table 5.
The rate of deficient intakes of energy and nutrients compared with dietary reference intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) of the elderly over 65 according to food insecurity status
  FS FI 1 FI 2 Total
  (n = 327) (n = 562) (n = 50) (n = 939)
Energy1) 172 (52.6)2) 346 (61.57) 32 (64.00) 550 (58.57)
Protein 62 (18.96) 156 (27.76) 22 (44.00) 240 (25.56)
Fiber 317 (96.94) 557 (99.11) 50 (100.00) 924 (98.40)
Calcium 222 (67.89) 449 (79.89) 45 (90.00) 716 (76.25)
Phosphorus 36 (11.01) 80 (14.23) 13 (26.00) 129 (13.74)
Iron 41 (12.54) 113 (20.11) 14 (28.00) 168 (17.89)
Sodium 16 (4.89) 36 (6.41) 3 (6.00) 55 (5.86)
Potassium 238 (72.78) 456 (81.14) 46 (92.00) 740 (78.81)
Vitamin A 165 (50.46) 328 (58.36) 38 (76.00) 531 (56.55)
Vitamin B1 140 (42.81) 316 (56.23) 30 (60.00) 486 (51.76)
Vitamin B2 225 (68.81) 453 (80.60) 41 (82.00) 719 (76.57)
Niacin 128 (39.14) 283 (50.36) 28 (56.00) 439 (46.75)
Vitamin C 162 (49.54) 320 (56.94) 35 (70.00) 517 (55.06)

1) Energy deficiency was defined as energy intake less than 75% of the estimated energy requirement according to sex and age for Koreans; Nutrient deficiency was defined as nutrient intake less than the estimated average requirement (exceptively, fiber, sodium and potassium was used to adequate intake) according to sex and age for Koreans.

2) n (weighted %)

Table 6.
Index of nutritional quality of the elderly over 65 according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) Total (n = 939) p-value1)
INQ2)
  Protein 1.26 ± 0.023)a4) 1.16 ± 0.02b 1.15 ± 0.04b 1.18 ± 0.01 0.0008
  Fiber 0.36 ± 0.02 0.33 ± 0.01 0.30 ± 0.02 0.33 ± 0.01 0.1080
  Calcium 0.73 ± 0.03a 0.61 ± 0.02b 0.58 ± 0.06b 0.64 ± 0.02 0.0105
  Phosphorus 1.58 ± 0.03a 1.47 ± 0.02b 1.47 ± 0.03b 1.48 ± 0.02 0.0013
  Iron 1.84 ± 0.10a 1.73 ± 0.12ab 1.42 ± 0.12b 1.74 ± 0.09 0.0133
  Sodium 3.76 ± 0.17 3.76 ± 0.13 3.55 ± 0.32 3.67 ± 0.10 0.7876
  Potassium 0.80 ± 0.03a 0.76 ± 0.01a 0.68 ± 0.02b 0.75 ± 0.01 0.0006
  Vitamin A 1.06 ± 0.10 0.93 ± 0.05 0.78 ± 0.07 0.96 ± 0.05 0.0768
  Vitamin B1 0.99 ± 0.03a 0.90 ± 0.02b 0.90 ± 0.03b 0.92 ± 0.01 0.0112
  Vitamin B2 0.71 ± 0.02a 0.62 ± 0.01b 0.62 ± 0.04ab 0.65 ± 0.01 0.0034
  Niacin 0.93 ± 0.02 0.89 ± 0.01 0.90 ± 0.03 0.89 ± 0.01 0.1609
  Vitamin C 0.89 ± 0.04 0.88 ± 0.04 0.81 ± 0.08 0.86 ± 0.03 0.5620

1) p-value from ANOVA

2) INQ: Index of Nutritional Quality

3) Age- and sex- adjusted mean ± SD

4) a, b : Means with different superscripts are significantly different by Tukey's multiple range test.

Table 7.
Dietary variety score (DVS) and dietary diversity score (DDS) of the elderly over 65 according to food insecurity status
  FS (n = 327) FI 1 (n = 562) FI 2 (n = 50) Total (n = 939) p-value1)
DVS2) 10.11 ± 0.204)a5) 9.27 ± 0.16b 9.28 ± 0.58ab 9.42 ± 0.13 0.0012
DDS3) 3.47 ± 0.07a 3.18 ± 0.05b 2.85 ± 0.15c 3.24 ± 0.05 0.0002

1) p-value from ANOVA

2) DVS: Dietary Variety Score

3) DDS: Dietary Diversity Score

4) Age- and sex-adjusted mean ± SD

5) a, b: Means with different superscripts are significantly different by Tukey's multiple range test.

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