Multivariate analysis of dietary habits in 931 elderly Japanese males: smoking, food frequency and food preference.

To define the influence of smoking on dietary patterns and food preference in elderly Japanese, a mail survey was conducted on about 3000 subjects aged 65 years and older. A multivariate analysis of dietary frequency data regarding 15 food items on 931 male respondents suggested that frequency of intake of plant food, including vegetables and fruits, was lower in smokers than in nonsmokers. Another multivariate analysis of food preference data regarding 18 food items on the same subjects suggested that smoking decreased the desire for plant food.