Risk of Social Isolation As a Contributing Factor to Diet Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Persons Living in the Australian Capital Territory-A Pilot Study

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2024 Mar 12

PMID 38470650

Authors

Elizabeth Low

Nathan M DCunha

Ekavi Georgousopoulou

Nenad Naumovski

Rachel Bacon

Stephen Isbel

Megan Brocklehurst

Matthew Reynolds

Daena Ryan

Jane Kellett

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Social isolation is recognised as a risk factor in the inflammatory process. This study explored the association between social isolation and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) in community-dwelling older persons.

Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study recruited 107 community-dwelling people aged over 55 years living in the Australian Capital Territory. Participants completed an extensive food frequency questionnaire and provided anthropometric and sociodemographic data. Social isolation was evaluated using the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS). Diet quality was assessed using DII.

Results: Average age was 70.1 (±8.61) years and 62.8% were female. The average DII score was -1.10 (±1.21), indicating an anti-inflammatory diet. Higher LSNS was associated with lower DII (b (95% CI) = -0.041 (-0.066, -0.17); < 0.01) and was positively influenced by the number of people in household (b (95% CI) = 5.731 (2.336, 9.127); = 0.001).

Conclusion: Increased risk of social isolation was associated with an increased tendency towards a more inflammatory diet. Reducing social isolation may decrease the inflammatory component of dietary intake for older persons living independently in the community.

Citing Articles

Social capital and healthy eating among two ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province, Southwest China: the mediating role of social support and nutrition knowledge.

Zhang Q, Huangfu C, Wan Q, Su W, Zhu X, Yu B Front Nutr. 2024; 11:1273851.

PMID: 38883859 PMC: 11176612. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1273851.

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