Older people who are more socially isolated are less likely to get enough micronutrients in their diet, increasing their chance of poor health, a new study published in the journal Age and Ageing shows.
Researchers analysed the diet and social circumstances of nearly four thousand older adults and found that many were deficient in vitamins such as vitamin C, B6, and folate, as well as the minerals manganese and potassium.
The deficiencies were more common in adults who were socially isolated but not in those who reported being lonely, leading the researchers to conclude that the low levels of micronutrients were due to the practicalities of low social interaction, such as not having anyone to advise or help prepare healthy food options, rather than emotion reasons.
Adequate intake of dietary micronutrients is essential for healthy ageing, and deficiencies can impair function across multiple systems, leading to conditions such as poor bone health, increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. In addition, social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults. The study aimed to examine whether isolation and loneliness are related to inadequate intake of micronutrients in the diet.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) analysed data from The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Data is collected every two years from a cross-section of people aged 50 to over 90 living in England. The researchers focused on survey questions that recorded social isolation, loneliness, and nutritional intake, collecting data from 2,024 women and 1,689 men, with an average age of 68 years. They scored respondents on how socially isolated or lonely they were based on whether they lived alone, saw friends and participated in clubs or organisations. Participants also completed a questionnaire about their food and drink consumption over two consecutive days.
Overall, the researchers found a striking number of respondents had a lower vitamin and mineral intake than recommended. Half of the respondents had a low potassium intake; a third had a low magnesium intake; a quarter were not getting enough calcium, and a sixth did not consume enough iron.
Social isolation made micronutrient intake worse, and the researchers found that people who were more socially isolated were less likely to get enough micronutrients in their diets. Social isolation was associated with an increased risk of low intake for five of the nine micronutrients analysed, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and potassium. The research team found that a one-point increase in participants’ social isolation score led to a higher likelihood of inadequate intake of these five nutrients two years later.
Social isolation was not linked to a higher likelihood of inadequate calcium, iron and vitamin B12, micronutrients mainly derived from meat, eggs and dairy.
Loneliness, unlike social isolation, was not linked to a lower intake of micronutrients, and the researchers suggest that the results highlight the practicalities of being socially isolated rather than the emotional aspect of being lonely. Less socially connected people may be more likely to have a more traditional diet with fewer vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Lead author Professor Andrew Steptoe from UCL said: ‘Our study shows that people who are more socially isolated are less likely to be getting enough micronutrients in their diet. One explanation for this link is that if you are more isolated, you might not have others around you to provide information about what is healthy and encourage a more varied diet. Older people also tend to stick to diets they know and might not vary their foods as much as they used to.’
The findings highlight the importance of making plant-based food such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and wholegrain cereals readily accessible to all. Promoting their consumption is especially important for older, isolated adults.
