Mabat Elderly Israel National Health and Nutrition Survey Database – Intake and Exposure Datasets

Conducted by the National Center for Disease Control (MALBAM) and the Food and Nutrition Services, the National Health and Nutrition (MABAT) surveys are large-scale studies on the state of health and nutrition in Israel. These surveys facilitate the identification of risk groups and the development of nutritional intervention programs. The survey results serve as a baseline for following trends in patterns of consumption and the nutritional and health status of the population. 

Mabat Elderly Survey –  National Health and Nutrition Survey for People 65 and Over, 2005-2006 was a cross-sectional study that was planned to gather basic data, on a national basis on the health and nutrition status of a random sample of the elderly in Israel. Food intake, health status, health behaviours (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, medication use, use of nutrition supplements), knowledge and attitudes regarding nutrition, and utilization of health services among this population were assessed in this survey. 

Mabat Elderly Survey population included 1,852 elderly (1,536 Jews and 316 Arabs) individuals aged 65 and over, residing in Israel, in the community (in their homes or sheltered housing) who had lived in the country for at least one year, and were defined as ‘active status’. The elderly individuals living in urban and rural settlements with 20,000 residents or more were included. Researchers conducted a personal, face-to-face interview in the interviewees’ homes using a structured questionnaire. The average interview time lasted one hour and 40 minutes. The questionnaire consisted of demographic details, questions on health status, dental health, functional, cognitive and emotional state, use of medications and supplements, smoking habits, eating and dieting patterns, nutrition knowledge and attitudes and sources of nutrition information. The questionnaire also included a 24-hour dietary recall. The data collection was planned such that it reflected the eating habits of the elderly in all seasons and on all days of the week. 

Additionally, functioning levels, cognitive assessment, mood assessment, and the effect of dental state on mood, function and food intake were also recorded in the datasets. Blood tests were also carried out on a representative number of individuals (272). Blood tests included blood count, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, sodium, potassium, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Plasma samples were kept for further tests: insulin, homocysteine, vitamin B6 and 2 vitamin D derivatives – 25 hydroxy vitamin D and 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3. Urine samples were checked for sodium and potassium. Blood and urine samples were transferred to the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) laboratory, in Tel Aviv. The results were categorized according to the range of normal values used by the analyzing laboratory.