Nutr Res Pract.  2025 Feb;19(1):66-79. 10.4162/nrp.2025.19.1.66.

Dietary habits of Koreans aged 95 years and older residing in rural and metropolitan areas

• Mun J
• Kim S
• Kim S
• Kim S
• Park SC
• Han JY
• Park K
• Park CY

• KMID: 2565397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2025.19.1.66

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Cultural and environmental factors may affect dietary habits and intake, regardless of age. As recent assessments of dietary habits of adults 95 yrs and older are absent, we aimed to determine dietary habits, diet quality, and intake of adults 95 yrs and older and test if they vary by region.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
Adults 95 yrs and older residing in rural areas (Gurye-gun, Goksung-gun, and Sunchang-gun [GuGokSun]; n = 46), a near-city area (Hwasun-gun, and Damyang-gun [HwaDam]; n = 77), and a metropolitan city (Gwangju Metropolitan City [Gwangju]; n = 32) were surveyed. Dietary habits and quality were surveyed using the Nutrition Quotient for the Elderly (NQ-E). Participants (n = 20) recorded videos of their meals, which were subsequently analyzed for food and nutrient intake and compared with intakes of participants of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) aged ≥ 80 yrs (n = 1,769), which were assessed via 24-h recall.
RESULTS
Most participants (85.2%) consumed similar amounts of food at meals; however, only 65.1% ingested meals at regular times. The mean NQ-E score was 48.0 ± 11.9 and did not differ among regions. In Gwangju participants, subjective income was positively associated with diet quality. The mean energy and grain intakes per meal were lower, whereas the percent energy intake from protein and intakes of seaweed, meat and poultry, and iron were higher in GuGokSun and HwaDam participants with meal recordings than in KNHANES participants.
CONCLUSION
Among Korean adults aged ≥ 95 yrs, few regional variations exist in dietary quality and habits, although associations with diet quality vary within regions. Adults 95 yrs and older exhibit lower energy intake but higher intakes of seaweed, meat and poultry, and iron than adults aged ≥ 80 yrs. Notwithstanding, further longitudinal studies on centenarians are warranted.

Keyword

Centenarians; dietary patterns; nutrients; health equity; aging

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flowchart of adults 95 yrs and older included in the study.

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  Fig. 2 Dietary habits of adults 95 yrs and older residing in GuGokSun, HwaDam, and Gwangju. (Total = 155, GuGokSum = 46, HwaDam = 77, Gwangju = 32)“Eating out” includes delivery food, to-go food, and meals or food provided by religious organizations, among others. Comparisons between regions were performed by χ2 test.GuGokSun, Gurye-gun, Goksung-gun, and Sunchang-gun; HwaDam, Hwasun-gun, and Damyang-gun.

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