Diet quality among older Quebecers as assessed by simple indicators

To determine whether older Quebecers are eating adequately and whether summary scores represent diet quality, a representative subset of participants aged 55 to 74 (weighted n=460, 47% male) was studied from the 1990 Enquete quebecoise sur la nutrition dataset. Participants' diet quality was scored from adjusted 24-hour recalls. Foods were coded into Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating food groups. Usual Dietary Adequacy Score (maximum=18) and Dietary Diversity Score (maximum=4) were calculated from adjusted food guide portions and validated internally in relation to achievement of nutrient recommendations using correlation analysis. Average usual Dietary Adequacy Score (mean standard error) was 14.96 +/- 0.15 (men) and 13.72 +/- 0.15 (women). Only 7% of men and 1% of women achieved the maximum usual score. Forty-four percent of men and 45% of women scored a usual Dietary Diversity Score of 3, and 55% of men and 50% of women achieved 4. Thus, approximately half of older Quebecers showed inadequate dietary variety, and consumed fewer than the minimum recommended number of servings from certain food groups. Summary diet quality indicators are useful for tracking diet quality, and provide critical data for planning nutrition education programs targeting older persons.