No abstract

Studies have suggested differential associations of specific indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) with nutrient intake and a cumulative effect of these indicators on diet. We investigated the independent association of SEP indicators (education, income, occupation) with nutrient intake and their effect modification. This cross-sectional analysis included 91,900 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé cohort. Nutrient intake was estimated using three 24-h records. We investigated associations between the three SEP factors and nutrient intake using sex-stratified analysis of covariance, adjusted for age and energy intake, and associations between income and nutrient intake stratified by education and occupation. Low educated participants had higher protein and cholesterol intakes and lower fibre, vitamin C and beta-carotene intakes. Low income individuals had higher complex carbohydrate intakes, and lower magnesium, potassium, folate and vitamin C intakes. Intakes of vitamin D and alcohol were lower in low occupation individuals. Higher income was associated with higher intakes of fibre, protein, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, and folate among low educated persons only, highlighting effect modification. Lower SEP, particularly low education, was associated with lower intakes of nutrients required for a healthy diet. Each SEP indicator was associated with specific differences in nutrient intake suggesting that they underpin different social processes.

Résumé L’article interroge les effets du veuvage sur l’alimentation des personnes âgées. Si « faire à manger » ne va plus de soi, les évolutions alimentaires observées sont analysées au regard de leurs conditions sociales d’engendrement. Elles varient ainsi selon le sexe de la personne veuve, selon la présence (ou non) et le type d’incapacités physiques, et prennent plus globalement sens en fonction de la structure sociale des consommations alimentaires. La problématique de l’alimentation abordée ici constitue alors un objet d’analyse du vieillissement et permet plus globalement d’éclairer de manière significative la problématique du vieillissement : l’observation des transformations alimentaires liées au veuvage constitue un objet d’analyse fécond pour comprendre les problèmes quotidiens auxquels sont confrontées les personnes âgées et comment elles y font face.