The news media are an important source of dietary information. Understanding news content, particularly the portrayal of risks and benefits of certain foods, is relevant for effective public health communication. Fish consumption may reduce risk for CVD and aid neonatal development, but recent work shows public confusion about the benefits of fish, challenged by the evidence of mercury and other contaminants in fish. We present an analysis of the messages about fish in US news media over 15 years, identifying trends in coverage and highlighting implications of current messaging.

We conducted a descriptive text analysis and coded for manifest content: locality of focus, story frame, reference to studies, inclusion of government guidelines and portrayal of uncertainty. We identified chronological patterns and analysed the data for statistically significant relationships between media source and content.

News stories were selected from five daily newspapers and five television networks (1993–2007).

We analysed 310 health-related news stories on fish.

Risk messages outweighed benefit messages four to one, and health benefits only became prominent after 2002. No difference existed in coverage topic by news source. Fish consumption has increasingly become a national issue.

With the bulk of messages about fish consumption focused on risk, the benefits may be lost to consumers. This gap creates a need for public health to work with news media to more effectively communicate benefits and risks around fish consumption and health and to consider options for communicating tailored information where it can be more readily utilised.

To establish the food consumption, dietary habits and nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and adults whose HIV status is not established.

Cross-sectional descriptive survey.

Thika and Bungoma Districts, Kenya.

A random sample of 439 adults; 174 adults living with HIV/AIDS and 265 adults whose HIV/AIDS status was not established in Thika and Bungoma Districts.

Majority of PLWHA consume foods that are low in nutrients to build up the immune system and help maintain adequate weight, and there is little variety in the foods they consume. More adults who are HIV-positive are undernourished than those whose status is not established. Of the HIV-positive adults, those with a BMI of ≤18·5 kg/m2 were 23·6 % (Thika 20·0 % and Bungoma 25·7 %) while of the adults whose status is not established those with BMI ≤ 18·5 kg/m2 were 13·9 % (Thika 9·3 % and Bungoma 16·7 %).

Adults who are HIV-positive are more likely to be undernourished than those whose status is not established, as there is a significant difference (P = 0·000) between the nutritional status (BMI) of PLWHA and those whose HIV/AIDS status is not established. PLWHA consume foods that are low in nutrients to promote their nutritional well-being and health.

To explore the association between vitamin B12 (B12)-containing supplement use, low B12 concentrations and biochemically defined B12 deficiency in US adults.

A cross-sectional study with adjustment for survey design. Prevalence ratios for two age groups (18–50 and >50 years) were estimated using unconditional logistic models. Outcome measures included prevalence of low serum B12 concentration (<148 pmol/l) and biochemical B12 deficiency (serum B12 < 148 pmol/l with concomitant homocysteine > 10 μmol/l).

A population survey of health and nutritional measures.

Subjects were non-institutionalized adults, aged 18 years and older, who participated in Phase 2 of NHANES III (Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).

Low B12 concentrations were less prevalent among persons consuming B12-containing supplements (P = 0·001) with an adjusted prevalence ratio of 0·6 (95 % CI 0·3, 1·0). Biochemical B12 deficiency showed a similar trend (P = 0·0002), with an adjusted prevalence ratio of 0·3 (95 % CI 0·1, 0·8). Prevalence ratios were similar in adults >50 years of age, although the prevalence of low B12 and biochemical deficiency was proportionally higher.

Consumption of B12-containing supplements was associated with at least 50 % lower prevalence of both low serum B12 and biochemical B12 deficiency in a nationally representative sample of US adults, suggesting increased consumption of B12 from supplements or from fortified foods may reduce the prevalence of B12 deficiency. Additionally, the current Recommended Daily Allowance for B12 of 2·4 μg may be insufficient for those aged >50 years.

Nutritious yet inexpensive foods do exist. However, many such foods are rejected by the low-income consumer. Is it because their use violates unspoken social norms? The present study was designed to assess the variety and cost of the lowest-cost market basket of foods that simultaneously met required dietary standards and progressively stricter consumption constraints.

A mathematical optimisation model was used to develop the lowest-cost food plans to meet three levels of nutritional requirements and seven levels of consumption constraints.

The nationally representative INCA (National Individual Survey of Food Consumption) dietary survey study of 1332 adults provided population estimates of food consumption patterns in France. Food plan costs were based on retail food prices.

The lowest-cost food plans that provided 9204 kJ/d (2200 kcal/d) for men and 7531 kJ/d (1800 kcal/d) for women and met specified dietary standards could be obtained for <1·50 €/d. The progressive imposition of consumption constraints designed to create more mainstream French diets sharply increased food plan costs, without improving nutritional value.

Minimising diet costs, while meeting nutrition standards only, led to food plans that provided little variety and deviated substantially from social norms. Aligning the food plan with mainstream consumption led to higher costs. Food plans designed for low-income groups need to be socially acceptable as well as affordable and nutritious.

Fe supplementation has been used to prevent anaemia in China; however, high Fe intake and body Fe stores may increase diabetes risk. The present study aimed to prospectively examine the association between Fe intake/stores and hyperglycaemia, and to assess the joint effects on anaemia.

We followed 1056 healthy adults aged 20 years and older from 2002 to 2007. Body Fe stores were measured. Dietary data were collected using a 3 d food record and FFQ. Hyperglycaemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose >5·6 mmol/l.

Of the participants, 28·8 % were anaemic at baseline. During the 5 years of follow-up, we documented 125 incident cases of hyperglycaemia, among them twenty-three were diabetic. Haem Fe intake was positively associated with the risk of hyperglycaemia in men and women: the OR (95 % CI) across increasing quartiles of haem Fe intake was 1·00 (referent), 1·49 (0·74, 3·01), 2·16 (1·06, 4·42) and 3·48 (1·71, 7·11), respectively (P for trend <0·001). Comparing the fourth quartile of serum ferritin with the others, the age- and gender-adjusted OR (95 % CI) was 1·54 (1·01, 2·34), P for trend = 0·043. The association between total Fe intake and the risk of hyperglycaemia was significant in men (P for trend = 0·002). Anaemia added additional risk of hyperglycaemia on haem Fe intake. Comparing extreme quartiles of haem Fe intake, the OR (95 % CI) was 5·67 (1·43, 22·49) and 3·44 (1·51, 7·85) for hyperglycaemia among anaemic and non-anaemic participants (P for trend = 0·008 and 0·010, respectively).

The present cohort study suggests that high haem Fe intake, anaemia and high ferritin are associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia in Chinese men and women. There was a joint effect between anaemia and haem Fe intake on the risk of hyperglycaemia.

To evaluate plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and prevalence rates of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHCY) in elderly Chinese individuals.

A cross-sectional study.

The study was conducted in 2006 in two counties from the north and the south of China.

A total of 810 individuals aged 65–74 years were recruited. Demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were assessed through questionnaire interviews and physical examination. Hcy and folate levels were measured in blood samples. The distribution of Hcy level was analysed according to Hcy-related factors.

Northerners had higher Hcy levels (18·42 μmol/l) than southerners (10·20 μmol/l). Plasma Hcy was higher in men than in women and greater in smokers than in non-smokers. The prevalence rate of HHCY was 51·6 % in the north and 10·1 % in the south (P < 0·001). Hcy and plasma folate showed an inverse correlation (Spearman’s r = −0·44, P < 0·001; partial r = −0·229, P < 0·001). Region, gender, alcohol consumption and plasma folate were associated with HHCY among these elderly populations.

The results demonstrated that plasma Hcy levels and the prevalence rates of HHCY in Chinese elderly are considerably higher than those found in other countries, and substantial regional variations occur within China. The predominant determining factors of HHCY were region, gender, alcohol consumption and plasma folate. The elevated Hcy levels among elderly Chinese populations need to be decreased urgently.

To explore the food intake of young migrants living in Germany.

Children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years living in Germany, including 17·1 % with a migration background, were examined in a representative health survey. Food frequency data of 7186 boys and 6919 girls, aged 3 to 17 years, were analysed separately for Turkish, Russian Germans, other migrants and non-migrants. Daily food intake was calculated and a healthy diet score was used to allow an overall interpretation of the diet. Using stepwise linear regression, the association between migrant status and healthy diet score was analysed.

Turkish participants (4·8 %) consumed significantly more soft drinks, fried potatoes, chocolate cream and snacks than all other groups and significantly less meat than other migrants and non-migrants. Turkish as well as other migrants (8·8 %) ate more poultry, fish and pasta/rice, and less sausage/bacon and cooked potatoes, than Russian Germans and non-migrants. Russian Germans (3·5 %) consumed less cooked vegetables than non-migrants and other migrants. Non-migrants had a better mean dietary score than Russian Germans and other migrants. A less preferable diet score was associated with higher age, male sex, being a migrant from Russia, low or middle socio-economic status, and living in rural or provincial areas.

The study showed considerable differences in dietary habits between young persons of different origin. This underlines the importance of focusing on ethnic groups in dietary interventions.

Although goitre and cretinism were brought under control in Kyrgyzstan during the 1960s by centrally directed iodized salt supplies, iodine-deficiency disorders (IDD) had made a comeback when the USSR broke up in 1991. Upon independence, Kyrgyzstan started developing its own salt processing industry and by 2001 the Government enacted a law on IDD elimination, mandating universal salt iodization (USI) at 25–55 mg/kg. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the USI strategy on the iodine consumption, iodine status and burden of IDD in the population of Kyrgyzstan.

A national, population-representative survey during autumn 2007 collected household salt and urine samples of school-age children and pregnant women for quantitative iodine measurements. Thyroid volume was measured by ultrasound.

The median iodine content in household salt was 11·2 mg/kg; 97·9 % of salt samples were iodized, but only 39·5 % had ≥15 mg iodine/kg. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of 114 μg/l in children did not differ from the UIC of 111 μg/l in pregnant women. Thyroid volume in pregnant women increased with the duration of pregnancy. Strong relationships existed between salt iodine levels and the UIC values in children and women.

The iodine nutrition status of the Kyrgyz population is highly responsive to household salt iodization. Although the results in children suggest adequate iodine nutrition, the iodine consumption among pregnant women did not assure their dietary requirements. In-depth analysis of the survey data suggest that excess iodine intake is not likely to become a public health concern in Kyrgyzstan when the salt supply meets agreed standards.

To provide HIV-positive mothers who opted for exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding from birth to 6 months postpartum as a means of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV with a sustainable infant food support programme (FSP) from 6 to 12 months postpartum. We describe the implementation and assessment of this pilot initiative.

The FSP included a 6-month provision of locally produced infant fortified mix (IFM; 418 kJ/100 g of gruel) for non-breastfed infants coupled with infant-feeding and psychosocial counselling and support. Acceptability and feasibility were assessed in a subsample of sixty-eight mother–infant pairs.

The FSP was developed in collaboration with local partners to support participants in a PMTCT prevention study. Formula was provided for free from 0 to 6 months postpartum. Cessation by 6 months was recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

The FSP was positively received and greatly encouraged breastfeeding mothers to cease by 6 months. As recommended, most infants were given milk as an additional replacement food, mainly formula subsidised by safety networks. Among daily IFM consumers, feeding practices were satisfactory overall; however, the IFM was shared within the family by more than one-third of the mothers. Cessation of IFM consumption was observed among twenty-two infants, seventeen of whom were fed milk and five neither of these.

Without any food support most mothers would have been unable to provide appropriate replacement feeding. The food security of non-breastfed infants urgently needs to be addressed in HIV PMTCT programmes. Our findings on a simple cost-effective pioneer intervention provide an important foundation for this process.

To nutritionally analyse mean energy intake (EI) from different 3 d intervals within a 7 d recording period and to evaluate the seasonal effect on energy and nutrient intake.

Cross-sectional study of dietary intake collected with 7 d food diaries.

Aberdeen, north-east Scotland, UK, between 2002 and 2004.

Participants from two long-term trials were pooled. These trials, investigating genetic and environmental influences on body weight, were the Genotyping And Phenotyping (GAP) study and a cohort observational study, Rowett Assessment of Childhood Appetite and metaboLism (RASCAL). There were 260 Caucasian adults, BMI range 16·7–49·3 kg/m2, age range 21–64 years.

Mean EI for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday had the closest approximation to the 7 d mean (0·1 % overestimate). A gender × season interaction (P = 0·019) with a different intake pattern for females and males was observed. For females, lower mean (se) EI was recorded in summer (8117 (610) kJ) and autumn (7941 (699) kJ) compared with spring (8929 (979) kJ) and winter (8132 (1041) kJ). For males, higher mean (se) EI was recorded in summer (10 420 (736) kJ) and autumn (10 490 (1041) kJ) compared with spring (9319 (1441) kJ) and winter (9103 (1505) kJ).

The study results indicate that 3 d weighed intakes recorded from Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are most representative of 7 d habitual intake in free-living subjects. They also indicate that seasonality has a limited effect on EI and no effect on macronutrient intake.

Sometimes the suspicion is put forward that nutrition students show more disordered eating patterns, which may be among the motivating factors to study nutrition. At the same time, it is not clear whether the students’ increasing knowledge about diet and nutrition is associated with a more healthy eating behaviour or with an unhealthy obsession with food choices.

Cross-sectional comparison of nutrition students from German universities during the first year of their studies (n 123) and during higher semesters (n 96), with a control group from other study programmes (n 68 and n 46, respectively). Dietary restraint, disinhibition, the tendency towards orthorexia nervosa and healthy food choices were assessed using a questionnaire.

Nutrition students showed higher levels of dietary restraint than the control group. Disinhibition and orthorexia nervosa did not differ between nutrition students and controls. Orthorexic tendencies were lower in the more advanced nutrition students. Healthy food choices did not differ among students in the first year. More advanced nutrition students showed healthier food choices, whereas the corresponding controls showed slightly more unhealthy food choices.

Nutrition students, more than other students, tend to restrict their food intake in order to control their weight, but they do not have more disturbed or disordered eating patterns than other students. Moreover, during the course of their studies, they adopt slightly more healthy food choices and decrease their tendency to be obsessive in their eating behaviour.

To study the impact of migration on food consumption among Indian factory workers and their siblings and spouses.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess diet using an interviewer-administered semi-quantitative FFQ from which intake of 184 commonly consumed food items was obtained.

Participants recruited from factory sites in Bangalore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Hyderabad.

The sample comprised 7049 participants (41·6 % female), and included urban, migrant and rural groups.

Thirteen food items were eaten by the greatest proportion of individuals on a daily basis. These were all indigenous foods. The proportion of people consuming tandoori roti, dal with vegetables, potato and ghee on a daily basis was highest in the urban sample, intermediate in the migrant group and lowest in the rural group (P ≤ 0·01). The proportion of individuals consuming Western food on a weekly basis followed a similar trend.

The diet of this sample is predominantly indigenous in nature, irrespective of migration status, with the prevalence of daily Western food consumption being minimal.

To identify parental child-feeding strategies that may increase children’s fruit or vegetable intake, since the relationship between these strategies and children’s intake has never been investigated for fruit and vegetables as two separate food groups.

A survey study, where parents provided information about their practices in relation to feeding their children and about their own and their children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Children completed a preference questionnaire about fruit and vegetables. To find underlying parental child-feeding strategies, factor analysis was applied to parents’ practices in relation to fruit and vegetables separately. Regression analysis was used to predict the effect of these strategies on children’s fruit and vegetable intake. The impact of the strategies was further analysed by estimating children’s intake based on the frequency of use of specific strategies.

The study was conducted at three primary schools in The Netherlands.

A total of 259 children between 4 and 12 years old and their parents (n 242).

Parents used different strategies for fruit as compared with vegetables. The vegetable-eating context was more negative than the fruit-eating context. Parental intake and presenting the children with choice were positive predictors of children’s intake of both fruit and vegetables. The intake difference based on frequency of use of the strategy ‘Choice’ was 40 g/d for vegetables and 72 g/d for fruit (P < 0·001).

Future interventions should focus on presenting children with choice during fruit- and vegetable-eating situations, since this is a powerful strategy to stimulate children’s fruit and vegetable intake.

To report the prevalence of anaemia by demographic characteristics and its secular trend over 13 years for south-east Chinese pregnant women, and to determine the focus of anaemia prevention in Chinese pregnant women.

Prospective study of the data on Hb concentration and other demographic information from a large-scale population-based perinatal health surveillance system in south-east China.

Fourteen cities or counties in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

A total of 467 057 prenatal women who had participated in the perinatal health-care surveillance system and delivered babies from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2005 and had a record of Hb in all three pregnancy trimesters.

The overall prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 39·6 % from 1993 to 2005. Anaemia prevalence increased from the first (29·6 %) to the second (33·0 %) and third (56·2 %) trimesters. The prevalence of anaemia was higher in villagers, in women with less education and in women with higher gravidity or parity. The prevalence of anaemia in all of the trimesters was higher in the spring, summer and autumn and lower in the winter. The prevalence decreased from 1993 to 2005, from 53·3 % to 11·4 % for the first trimester, 45·6 % to 22·8 % for the second trimester and 64·6 % to 44·6 % for the third trimester.

The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces decreased substantially from 1993 to 2005. However, anaemia in the third trimester is still a severe public health problem among pregnant women in these areas.

Although breakfast is important for obesity prevention and dietary quality, breakfast skipping is a common behaviour. Knowledge of changes in breakfast habits may provide potential behaviour targets for intervention programmes. The present study describes the actual data on trends in breakfast habits and composition.

A total of 7800 3 d dietary records of 1081 participants aged 2–18 years collected between 1986 and 2007 in the DONALD (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed) Study were analysed using mixed linear models.

Breakfast was eaten at 78 % of all record days; regular breakfast (breakfast was eaten on all three recorded weekdays) was eaten in 75 % of records. During the study period, the number of records with regular breakfast decreased significantly in 6–12- and 13–18-year-olds (P = 0·0084 and 0·0350, respectively). Of all breakfast meals, 62 % were bread meals and 21 % were ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) meals. RTEC meals nearly doubled from the youngest to the oldest age group (P < 0·0001). During the study period, the percentage of bread meals decreased, whereas the percentage of RTEC meals increased (P < 0·0001). A higher percentage of RTEC meals than the bread meals was in accordance with the food-based guidelines (36 % v. 20 %, P < 0·0001), i.e. a breakfast including grain, dairy and fruit/vegetables.

In the DONALD Study sample, a negative age and time trend in breakfast consumption was verified. Interventions regarding breakfast habits should be aimed at adolescents and should focus on fruit/vegetables.

To investigate the ability of each metabolic syndrome (MetS) criterion, defined by the International Diabetes Federation, to predict insulin resistance (IR).

A cross-sectional study. IR was defined as homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) ≥3·04. The MetS criteria considered were TAG ≥ 1·69 mmol/l, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) <1·29 mmol/l, blood pressure (BP) ≥130/85 mmHg and fasting glucose (FG) ≥5·6 mmol/l.

Busan, South Korea.

Ninety-six apparently healthy Korean women (mean age 42 (sd 10·6) years) with abdominal obesity (waist circumference (WC) ≥80 cm) were studied.

Of the ninety-six obese women, 11 % were insulin-resistant and 33 % fulfilled the criteria for IDF-defined MetS. Glucose and TAG were more likely to predict IR than BP and HDL-C when assessed using receiver-operating characteristic curves, multiple regression and multiple logistic regression analyses. Of the variation in HOMA-IR, TAG, FG, WC and age explained 42 %. High FG was independently associated with the presence of IR (OR = 8·6, 95 % CI 1·8, 41·8) even after adjusting for other components of MetS. The positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio to detect IR were the highest for the FG criterion (33 % and 3·9, respectively), followed by TAG (28 %, 3·0), BP (19 %, 1·8) and HDL-C criteria (18 %, 1·7). The IDF definition of MetS exhibited a positive predictive value of 29 % and a positive likelihood ratio of 3·1.

Of the MetS criteria, high FG and high TAG seem to be more suitable for identifying obese women with IR than high BP and low HDL-C.

To analyse changes in the distribution of BMI in Australia between 1980 and 2000.

Data were from the 1980, 1983 and 1989 National Heart Foundation Risk Factor Prevalence Study, the 1995 National Nutrition Survey and the 1999/2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. Survey participants were aged 25–64 years and resident in Australian capital cities. BMI was calculated as weight divided by height squared (kg/m2), where weight and height were measured using standard procedures.

Mean BMI was higher in 2000 than 1980 in all sex and age groups. The age-adjusted increase was 1·4 kg/m2 in men and 2·1 kg/m2 in women. The BMI distribution shifted rightwards for all sex and age groups and became increasingly right-skewed. The change between 1980 and 2000 ranged from a decrease of 0·04 kg/m2 at the lower end of the distribution for men aged 25–34 years to an increase of 7·4 kg/m2 at the higher end for women aged 55–64 years. While the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) doubled, the prevalence of obesity class III (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) increased fourfold.

BMI in urban Australian adults has increased and its distribution has become increasingly right-skewed. This has resulted in a large increase in the prevalence of obesity, particularly the more severe levels of obesity. It will be important to monitor changes in the different classes of obesity and the extent to which obesity interventions both shift the BMI distribution leftwards and decrease the skew of the distribution.

To assess the nutrient profile of yoghurts and dairy desserts.

Nutrition information panels and product labels on yoghurts and dairy desserts offered for sale were surveyed in 2005 and 2008 and nutrients analysed by two nutrient profiling systems.

A large supermarket in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.

In total, 248 and 140 dairy snacks (yoghurt, fromage frais or dairy desserts) were surveyed in 2005 and 2008, respectively. Over this time, median packet size rose significantly (P ≤ 0·001). In yoghurts, median energy and total fat content also increased while protein decreased (all P < 0·05). The proportion of ‘full-fat’ products rose from 36 % to 46 %. Because of the addition of sugar, most ‘reduced-fat’ yoghurts had energy content similar to many ‘full-fat’ yoghurts. Overall, the proportion of yoghurts and dairy desserts that were ‘less healthy’ (i.e. displaying one or more ‘red traffic lights’ for high fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar content) rose from 12 % in 2005 to 23 % in 2008. Only 1–2 % could be deemed ‘healthy’ by the most stringent criterion (displaying four ‘green traffic lights’), while 21 % (2005) or 28 % (2008) were ‘healthy’ by a nutrient profiling system that included a score for protein. Sucrose, the most common sweetener, was found in levels up to 29 g/100 g. Claims on packaging mainly related to Ca, fat or protein content. Few labels referred to sugar content.

The deterioration in nutrient quality of yoghurts needs to be redressed.

The aim of the study is to elucidate differences in adults’ diet by education, and to analyse the associations between dietary facilitators, education and dietary fat quality.

In all, one-third of subjects from the national FINRISK health survey were invited to participate in the FINDIET 2007 Survey. A 48 h dietary interview was used for dietary data and personal background data were collected by the health survey questionnaire.

Representative sample from five regions in Finland in spring 2007.

A total of 1576 adults, participation rate 60 %.

Oil used in cooking differed by education. Instead perception of cardiovascular risk, or the following of a cholesterol-lowering diet, were equal across all educational categories. The diet of men with low education contained less protein and carbohydrates, more fat and more SFA and MUFA than that of highly educated men. The diet of women with low education contained less PUFA, vitamin C and vitamin E than in the highly educated category. High education remained a significant determinant for the lower intake of SFA in men, and for the higher intake of PUFA in women, after adjusting for the determinants and facilitators of dietary behaviour and age. The lower intake of SFA was also associated with following a cholesterol-lowering diet in both genders. In addition to education, the intake of unsaturated fatty acids was determined by the oil used in cooking by women, and by frequent lunches served by caterers for men.

In dietary behaviour, awareness and reporting of cholesterol-lowering diet seem to indicate a tendency to control the intake of saturated fat. Health messages are likely to enhance tools for increasing the intake of PUFA, in addition to reducing the intake of SFA.

To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among free-living elderly in a rural population of south India.

Cross-sectional study. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, which is an eighteen-item nutritional screening instrument used in the elderly.

Kaniyambadi block, a rural development block in the state of Tamil Nadu, south India.

Community-dwelling elderly (aged 60 years and above).

As evaluated by the MNA, 14 % of the 227 subjects were malnourished and 49 % were at risk of malnourishment. No significant difference was found between men and women. The majority of the elderly were living with their children, had no income and consumed three meals per day. Older age (P < 0·001), decreased food intake (P < 0·001) and consuming fewer meals (P < 0·001) were independently associated with lower MNA scores.

More than 60 % of the subjects had low MNA scores (<23·5) indicating that deficient protein–energy intake is common among rural elderly of south India and requires more attention.