Gastrointestinal discomforts and dietary intake in Chinese urban elders:A cross-sectional study in eight cities of China

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal(GI)discomforts are common in the elderly population;however,whether such discomforts are associated with dietary intake has not been studied.AIM To evaluate GI discomforts in Chinese urban elders and the associated factors.METHODS The gastrointestinal symptom rating scale(GSRS)was used to identify GI discomforts in 688 elders from eight cities of China.The semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and one time of 24 h dietary recall were used to access the food intake,identify dietary pattern,and calculate the nutrients intake.RESULTS About 83%of studied elders experienced at least one of GI discomforts in the past 6 mo;dyspepsia was the most commonly reported(66.7%),followed by reflux(44.8%),abdominal pain(35.9%),constipation(35.8%),and diarrhea(34.7%).Female gender,lower education level,and lower family income were associated with a higher GSRS score.Participants who were diagnosed with a GI-related disease had a higher score of constipation,but a lower score of reflux.Chronic diseases were positively associated with certain GI discomforts.Three dietary patterns were identified by the method of principal component analysis,which were characterized as high intake of salt and tea;more frequent intake of tubers,fruits,aquatic products,and soybeans;and high intake of cereal,vegetables,and meat,respectively.However,no associations between dietary patterns and GSRS score were found.The elders with a higher GSRS score had significantly lower intake of bean products.The elders whose GSRS score was≥21 and 18-20 decreased their bean production intake by 7.2(0.3,14.3)g/d and 14.3(1.2,27.3)g/d,respectively,compared with those who had a GSRS score≤17.There were no differences in other food categories,calories,or nutrients intake among elders with different GSRS scores.CONCLUSION GI discomforts are common in Chinese urban elders.GI discomforts might be associated with the choice of food.

Nutrient Intakes of Pregnant Women and their Associated Factors in Eight Cities of China： A Cross-sectional Study

Background： During tile last 3 decades, China has dramatic changes of the dietary pattern among its citizens, particularly in urban cities. This study aimed to determine the nutrient intake status and factors associated with nutrient intakes of urban Chinese pregnant women now-a-day. Methods： The multistage stratified random sampling method was applied in the cross-sectional study. 479 women in three trimesters of pregnancy from eight cities of China were recruited. Nutrient intakes were evaluated with one 24 h dietary recall, and compared with the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes （DRIs） 2013 tbr available nutrients. Results： Most pregnant women had imbalanced macronutrient distribution with excessive energy derived from fat. Intakes of Vitamin A, B, calcium, magnesium, and selenium were below Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake （RNI） and Estimated Average Requirements （EARs） in all trimesters. Most pregnant women took more tblic acid in the first trimester with a significant decrease in the second and third trimester （P 〈 0.05）. Shortfall in iron intake was tbund in the third trimester whereas some women may be at the risk of excessive iron intake. Intakes of thiamin met RNI in the first trimester but were below EAR in all trimesters. Trimester phasing was positively associated with most nutrients （P 〈 0.05）. Prepregnancy body mass index was inversely associated with energy, tht, Vitamin C, and calcium intake （P 〈 0.05）. Educational level and household income were positively associated with folic acid intake （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions： Cunent prenatal dietary choices of urban pregnant women in China are imbalanced in the nutrient intake when compared with national DRIs 2013, particularly in intakes of energy derived from fat and micronutrients. Appropriate dietary advice to pregnant women should promote a balanced diet with emphasis on avoidance of foods of high fat content and incorporation of t＇oods that are good sources of the key micronutrients that are usually lacking in a regular pregnancy diet. Further research is needed to understand the eating habits and food patterns that contribute to this imbalanced diet in order to be able to effectively improve prenatal women＇s nutrient intake status.