Objective: The aim of the present study was to: 1) describe the patterns of fruit and vegetable (f&v) intake in Canadian elderly and 2) identify socio-demographic factors that were associated with the low consumption.
Methods: Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey cycle 2.1 (2003), Public Use File, were used. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 11.5 for Windows. Total f&v intake of Canadian elderly (65 years and older) was cross-tabulated between four age groups, by gender, level of household education, total household income, ethnicity, marital status, and geographical locations.
Results: Our data revealed that 47% of Canadian elderly sample consume f&v equal to or greater than five times daily. A strong positive association was found between f&v consumption and total household income and highest household education. Gender and marital status were other important contributing factors for f&v intake among elderly. Ethnicity did not influence f&v intake. Younger males reported to consume less f&v than older males did, but consumption of f&v was comparable among all four age groups of females. Elderly living in the Maritime Provinces and the Yukon/Northwest Territories/Nunavut had a lower level of f&v consumption, as compared to elderly living in other provinces.
Conclusions: These results indicate that >50% of Canadian elderly do not consume f&v five or more times per day. Gender and several socio-demographic factors significantly influence f&v intake in Canadian elderly. Further studies warrant identifying at risk elderly groups and implementing programs to encourage adequate f&v intake by Canadian elderly.