The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA
The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA
3039.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - Board 8
Abstract #54477
Vitamin supplement use of low-Income elderly in the Southeast
Learning Objectives:
This study determined whether the elderly food secure are taking more iron, vitamin C, calcium, and/or multivitamin/mineral supplements than food insecure in the Southeastern United States. Objectives:
To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity among this elderly population, according to the USDA’s food security scale, Guide to Measuring Household Food Security.11
To classify the elderly as food secure, food insecure without hunger, or food insecure with hunger.
To compare the food stamp users and food security status to food stamp nonusers and food security status.
To determine the self-reported health rankings and supplement use.
To compare supplement use between those who are food secure and food insecure. Data was collected by telephone questionnaires and food security status was determined using the USDA’s Guide to Measuring Household Food Security. Statistical significance was found, using Chi-Square analysis, between the amount of supplement users and education levels; food stamp recipients and food security status; and rankings of self-reported health and food security status, (80% CI). 65.2% of the total sample were food secure, 26.2% were food insecure without hunger, and 8.6% were food insecure with hunger. 62% used vitamin/mineral supplements. The majority of supplement users were of higher education status. The majority of food stamp recipients were food insecure. Food assistance programs may be important in the health of this population. Further studies need to be conducted concerning the long-term implications of vitamin-mineral supplements.
