TITLE: QUALITY OF DIET OF BOTSWANA’S ELDERLY AUTHOR(S): S.D. Maruapula, MEd; K.M. Chapman-Novakofski, RD, PhD, LDN; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand the importance of overall diet quality of older persons using the Healthy Eating Index when assessing the diet. TEXT: Information on the quality of the diet consumed by elderly persons is lacking as most attention is focused on women and children in Botswana. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diet of elders in Botswana and to identify the factors associated with poor quality. A cross-sectional survey using focused interviews with a stratified sampling of urban, semi-urban, and rural locations was conducted over a three month period. Ninety-nine participants (67% females, 33% males) aged 60 to 99 years completed a multi-pass 24- hour interview that also included questions regarding demographics, health, and cooking responsibilities in Setswana that was recorded and transcribed in English. Diets were compared to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Most had a poor diet (67%), with a lack of variety and intake of milk, vegetables, meat, and fruits. The elderly met the recommended intakes only for the Bread and Cereal group. Mean HEI and fruit intake differed by locality (ANOVA, p .03, .01), urban dweller having the better diet. Factors associated with dietary intake were loaded into a regression model with HEI score as the dependent variable; variance in mean HEI scores was explained by locality (p.05). Those items in the HEI which included dietary restrictions for best diet quality (sodium, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol) were met by the older Batswana, possibly due to overall restricted intake. The HEI can be used with older populations to assess diet quality. For those in Botswana, dietary improvements are needed in variety, milk, fruit, meat and vegetable intake. FUNDING DISCLOSURE: This project is partially supported by the Agriculture Experiment Station, University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign. TITLE: FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE PATTERNS AND BARRIERS TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE AMONG PARTICIPANTS OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT NUTRITION PROGRAM AUTHOR(S): J.M. Garcia; J.G. Fischer, PhD, RD; M.A. Johnson, PhD; Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia LEARNING OUTCOME: The participant will be able to identify fruit and vegetable consumption patterns, attitudes, knowledge, and perceived and actual barriers to fruit and vegetable intake among the elderly. TEXT: High consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases. Little research has been conducted on fruit and vegetable consumption among older adults, a group with increased susceptibility to chronic disease. Fruit and vegetable intake and barriers to intake was assessed among participants of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program. A convenience sample of 96 individuals was enrolled in the study (mean age = 77 years; 87% female; 55% African American). 50% or more of participants reported consuming less than one serving per week of 17 out of 25 fruits and vegetables included on a food frequency questionnaire. The mean intake of total fruits and vegetables was 3.4 servings per day. Only 23% of participants knew that consumption of 5 or more servings each day of fruits and vegetables is recommended. More than 80% of participants believed they would be healthier if they improved the way they eat, and were interested in health benefits of fruits and vegetables, new ways to prepare fruits and vegetables, and healthy menus. A higher percentage of participants aged 80 and over lacked access to kitchen tools, and were not able to shop for their own groceries compared to those less than age 80. Those over 80 were less interested in learning new ways to prepare fruits and vegetables or in handouts on healthy menus (p0.05). Elderly Americans would benefit from educational programs designed to decrease barriers to intake, and improve behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge related to fruit and vegetable intake. FUNDING DISCLOSURE: This work was supported in part by the University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station (Project GEO 000916), the Northeast Georgia Area on Aging, and the USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (DHR Contract 427–93-45989). TITLE: EFFECTIVENESS OF GROUP INTERACTIVE NUTRITION EDUCATION IN MODIFYING NUTRITION BEHAVIORS IN HEALTHY ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS AUTHOR(S): N. Caine-Bish, PhD, RD; Kent State University, Kent, OH LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify the effectiveness of six biweekly group nutrition education sessions in modifying dietary behaviors in physically active free-living older adults. TEXT: Due to demographic changes in the population, the continual rise of several chronic diseases, and the special nutrient needs of older adults, it is important to consider the effectiveness of nutrition intervention programming for older adults. The purpose of this investigation was to demonstrate if interactive nutrition education modified eating habits of free living physically active older adults. Fourteen self-selected older adults (n=8 females, n=6 males) currently enrolled in a weekly physical fitness program volunteered to participate in six biweekly one hour nutrition education sessions over 12 weeks. The educational sessions focused on specific dietary needs of the older adult utilizing the following format: 20-min lecture with handouts, 15-min interactive education activities, and a 20 –25 min question/answer/discussion session. Pre- and post-testing included twenty-four hour dietary recalls to determine if the educational intervention positively impacted dietary intake of the following variables: total daily calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, fiber, calcium, iron, and B 12 . Data were analyzed using a 2  2 (gender  time) repeated measures ANOVA with p0.05 selected a priori. Statistical analysis demonstrated an increase in fiber consumption (p=0.015) over time. Significant interactions demonstrated male participants decreased kcal consumption (p=0.017) and fat consumption (p=0.029) at the conclusion of the study. No significance (p0.05) was demonstrated for protein, saturated fat, calcium, iron, or B 12 . In conclusion, it is evident that interactive nutrition education may have an impact on dietary modification of selected nutrients in the older adult and that dietary modification of these nutrients may be gender specific. FUNDING DISCLOSURE: None TITLE: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AUTHOR(S): J.Z. Ilich, PhD, RD; R.A. Brownbill, PhD, RD; S.M. Chasse; H.E. Shead; L. Dubuque; M. Moder, RD; University of Connecticut, School of Allied Health, Storrs, CT LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand possible association between consumption of milk, fruit-juice, soda, coffee, tea, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. TEXT: Studies show that dairy beverages, tea, and/or fruit intake are positively associated with bone mineral density (BMD), while coffee and soda may contribute to low BMD. These relationships are less clear in elderly. We investigated relationship between consumption of milk, fruit- juice, soda, coffee, tea, and BMD in 136 healthy, Caucasian women (68.67.1y). Average beverage consumption was determined with 3-day- dietary records. Anthropometries and blood pressure were measured via standard procedures and BMD and lean and fat tissue by DXA. Multiple regression and ANCOVA were used in analyses with the following cofounders: age, height, weight (or lean/fat tissue), systolic blood pressure, activity, calcium, energy, and/or protein intake. There was no relationship between fruit-juice and soda or milk intake, as well as between milk and soda or coffee/tea. Fruit-juice consumption was negatively associated with coffee and tea consumption. 82.8% (n=114) subjects consumed some kind of caffeinated beverage. Multiple regression revealed negative relationship between spine BMD and caffeinated drinks (combined coffee, tea and cola), p=0.0394. When subjects were divided into soda (all kinds) and non-soda consumers, ANCOVA showed significantly lower spine BMD in the former. When subjects were divided into milk and non-milk drinkers, ANCOVA showed higher hip BMD in the former, but the statistical significance was not reached. When subjects were divided into below (Group 1) and above (Group 2) median for fruity-juice consumption, Group 2 had significantly higher spine BMD. In conclusion, fruit-juice and milk consumption may be beneficial for spine and hip BMD while soda consumption and total caffeine may be detrimental for spine BMD in older women. FUNDING DISCLOSURE: Funded in part by the NRI/USDA 2001– 00836, Donaghue Medical Research Foundation DF98 – 056, University of Connecticut Office for Sponsored Programs and Mission Pharmacal, San Antonio, TX. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 POSTER SESSION: WELLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-69