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Objective: Social networks are critical social health factors for older adults. This study examined the association between social networks and dietary variety among community-dwelling older adults. Design: A cross-sectional study, using the dietary variety score (DVS) developed for older Japanese people to assess dietary variety and the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) to assess social networks. Setting: N City, H Prefecture, Japan. Participants: Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years (n 1229). Results: The LSNS-6 score in the low DVS group was lower than that in the middle and high DVS groups (12·2 ± 5·6 v. 13·4 ± 5·4 and 14·4 ± 5·7, P < 0·001). The population of social isolation (LSNS-6, < 12) in the low DVS group was higher than that in the middle and high DVS groups (43·5 % v. 35·8 % and 31·0 %, P = 0·005). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the LSNS-6 score was positively correlated with DVS (standardised coefficient, 0·092; P = 0·002). Social isolation was also significantly associated with a low DVS in the multivariate-adjusted logistic analysis model (OR, 1·30; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·68; P = 0·048). Stratified analysis results revealed the LSNS-6 and DVS were significantly associated in participants with the following characteristics: younger age (< 75 years), women and those living with someone. Conclusions: Social networks were associated with dietary variety; social isolation was related to poor dietary variety among community-dwelling older adults. An association between social networks and dietary variety was observed among young-old older adults, women and those living with someone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Sleep disturbance is a common health problem in the elderly population. We examined the association between dietary variety and subjective sleep quality in community-dwelling elderly Japanese women.Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study recruited 160 community-dwelling elderly women aged ≥65 years. Subjective sleep quality and dietary variety were assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and dietary variety score (DVS), respectively. DVS was calculated from the eating frequency of 10 food groups. Sleep disturbance was defined as PSQI score of ≥6.Results: The DVS in subjects with sleep disturbance was significantly lower than that of those without the disturbance (4.1±2.1 vs 5.3±2.1, p<0.01). In the multivariable regression model, the PSQI score was negatively correlated with the DVS score in age-adjusted model (standardized coefficient; -0.234, p<0.01). In the further adjusted model that included depression levels, the negative association between PSQI score and DVS score was retained (standardized coefficient; -0.211, p<0.05). Among 10 food groups comprising DVS, the eating frequency of soybean and soybean products was the determinant of sleep disturbance in the stepwise liner regression analysis. In the further model that contained DVS, DVS was the independent determinant of sleep disturbance, while the eating frequency of soybean and soybean products was excluded.Conclusions: A worse sleep quality was associated with lower DVS in elderly Japanese women. Diet comprising various food groups was better for sleep quality than consuming only a particular food in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]