Consumo de energia e nutrientes em idosos residentes em instituições de longa permanência do município de Natal/RN

Abstract

Population aging is an exponential demographic phenomenon. As the population ages, increasing the demand for nursing homes as an alternative for those who have some degree of dependence, as well as for families who lack the financial, physical or emotional means to provide the necessary care. The institutionalization causes changes in the routine of the elderly, especially in food, which, added to the physiological changes of aging, can lead to inadequate intake of food and nutrients, compromising their nutritional status. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional habitual intake of elderly residents of nursing homes from Natal/RN, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with elderly residents in nursing homes registered on authority healthy (n = 416). Dietary intake was determined by two dietary records with weighing the waste, with a range of 30 to 45 days. It was calculated the difference between the served amount and waste to determine the amount of consumption. Diets were analyzed in the software Virtual Nutri Plus®. The usual each nutrient intake was estimated by removing the effect of withinperson variance, by the Iowa State University method. The dietary intake data were adjusted for energy using the residual method. The adequate of macronutrients was verified according the acceptable distribution ranges, and considering the associated factors. The prevalence of inadequate intake was estimated using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) as the cutoff, gender, age, type of institution and need help to feed on. Results: Of the 416 nursing homes residents, 313 elderly were evaluated. It was observed that men had average energy intake below the nutritional requirements. It was identified that 52.4% of the elderly had lower energy consumption to the recommendations. It was found that 57.3% had total fat intake below the recommended range. With regard to carbohydrates, 10.5% had lower consumption and 32.9% higher than the recommendations, and overconsumption associated with being female, age less than 75 years and the need to help to feed. The protein intake was in the recommended range for all elderly. High prevalence of inadequacy were observed, regardless of the associated factors, for almost all micronutrients analyzed, highlighting the inadequacies of vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and vitamin D, and the minerals iron, magnesium and potassium. Elderly had low usual fiber intake. Conclusion: The institutionalized elderly had low energy intake and imbalances in the contribution of dietary macronutrients, represented by excessive consumption of carbohydrates and insufficient total fat. They also have a high prevalence of inadequate micronutrient, important in preventing chronic diseases common in the elderly