Purpose: We conducted an 8-year longitudinal study to investigate aging-related changes in food and nutrient intake in a cohort of elderly subjects living in an urban community, and attempted to relate the food intake with vital prognosis. Procedures: The first (baseline) nutrition survey was conducted in 1991 on 161 subjects (72 males and 89 females ; aged from 65 to 79) living in Koganei City. The second nutrition survey was conducted 8 years later in 1999. Excluding death or illness, 98

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... cts (86%) were available for the follow-up study. A nutrition survey was conducted by the three-day dietary record method with daily home visits by dieticians. Aging-related changes in the physical attributes, food intake, nutrient intake, and intake adequacy were analyzed. The relationship between the nutritional intake and mortality was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The mean of the adequacy of energy intake was 113 %, while 13 % of the subjects had an energy intake adequacy of less than 90 %. The education level and self-rated health were positively correlated with the adequacy of energy intake, as was eyesight. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the education level was significantly associated with the adequacy of energy intake. Among all the food groups considered, the consumption of fruit had declined in both the males and females. A significantly decreased intake of protein, fats, carbohydrate, iron and sodium was observed in the females. There was no change in the protein-fat-carbohydrate energy ratio. The nutrient intake was greater than the recommended dietary allowances during the baseline survey and also eight years later. A significant correlation was observed between the vegetable protein intake and vital prognosis in the males. Conclusion: The results from this cohort indicate that, although the nutrient and food intake changed with aging, the nutrient intake was still higher than the recommended dietary allowances. These results show that a "diet for healthy longevity" can be achieved by continuing to maintain the recommended dietary allowances despite advancing age. Jpn. J. Nutr. Diet., 62 (2) 73 •' 81 (2004)