Objective: To investigate the consumption of aquatic foods of old people in China.
Methods: The elderly( 60 years or older) were from the 2010- 2012 Chinese Residents Nutrition and Health Surveillance. Their basic information were surveyed, and their consumption of aquatic foods were recorded by food frequency questionnaire.
Results: The median of consumption of aquatic foods of the elderly in China was 12. 1 g / d. The60- 70 years old male subjects from metropolis had the highest consumption of aquatic foods( median: 31. 5 g / d), and the 70- 80 years old female subjects from poor rural area had the lowest consumption( median: 0. 0 g / d). The elderly whose consumption of aquatic foods were lower than recommended consumption provided over 50% of total elderly subjects in all areas and in all age groups. The factors which influenced the consumption of aquatic foods of the elderly included but not limited to education, income and concern for own health( P < 0. 01).
Conclusion: There was significant difference among consumption of aquatic foods of different old people groups, but the consumption were generally low in all old people groups. It is necessary to take measures to encourage the old people to appropriately increase the consumption of aquatic foods.
Keywords: aquatic foods; elderly; food frequency questionnaire; n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid.