Abstract
Disclosure: M. Kometani: asken.inc. Y. Oiwa: None. K. Aiga: None. Y. Noda: None. S. Konishi: None. D. Aono: None. M. Kadono: None. T. Yoneda: None.
Background: Nutritional management for the elderly is essential for extending healthy life expectancy and improving quality of life (QOL). An appropriate nutrition intake particularly plays an important role in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In recent years, the development of digital technology has made it possible to monitor nutrition intake using tools such as meal recording applications, and accumulate variety of evidence. However, detailed data on seasonal fluctuations in the nutritional intake of the elderly and deviations from nutritional intake standards are limited, and the impact of insufficient or excessive intake of salt or minerals on health risks has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutrition intake status of people aged 65 years or older based on information obtained from diet and health management applications. Methods: This study analyzed users of a diet and health management application who were 65 years or older. Data were collected from November 2021 to November 2023. The evaluation criteria was set by nutrition intake and the rate of achievement of nutritional intake standards. The distribution of intake was also analyzed using box-and-whisker plots, and comparisons were made with the National Health and Nutritional Survey in Japan. The National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan is an annual nationwide survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, assessing the health and nutritional intake of approximately 5,000 households. Results: A total of 9,385 participants met the criteria and were included in the final analysis. The analysis revealed seasonal fluctuations in the intake of major nutrients. Salt intake peaked in February, with a difference of 0.6g from August. In the analysis of the rate of achievement of nutritional intake standards in Japan, deficiencies in zinc and magnesium were particularly noticeable, at 15% for men and 21% for women, and 22% for men and 29% for women, respectively. Excessive salt intake was particularly noticeable, with 88% of men and 80% of women exceeding the standard. Conclusion: This study revealed seasonal fluctuations in nutrient intake and nutrient deficiencies through data analysis using an application. Of note, the increase in salt intake in winter and the deficiencies of magnesium and zinc are likely to be important issues for the elderly. These results could provide a basis for designing new approaches to the nutritional intake of the elderly using digital technology.
Presentation: Monday, July 14, 2025