For adults 65 and older, a more diverse diet lowers the risk of hospitalization, according to research in the American Journal of Managed Care.
Researchers used data from "The Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan," which included six-point dietary diversity scores based on 24-hour dietary data for nearly 1,700 subjects. Adults with a DDS of 6 had lower emergency service and hospital expenditures than adults with a DDS of 3 or lower. Adults with a DDS of 6 had higher expenditures for preventive care and dental services.
Greater dietary diversity is associated with better health among the elderly, lower use of inpatient care and emergency care and higher use of ambulatory care. Researchers suggested investing in a nutrition plan for older adults with less diverse diets may help alleviate high healthcare expenditures among the elderly.
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