Diet, Handgrip Strength and Elevated Blood Pressure in Older Adults in Peri-Urban Ghana
In this cross-sectional study of 200 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over in peri-urban Ghana, dietary inadequacy was common, and better diet quality indicators were associated with normal handgrip strength and lower odds of elevated blood pressure. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The cross-sectional study included 200 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and above in five peri-urban communities in Ghana. [1]
More than half did not meet the dietary reference intake for several nutrients, and no participant met it for calcium. [1]
Better diet quality indicators were associated with normal handgrip strength and lower odds of elevated blood pressure. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional study (abstract only)
- Population / context
- 200 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and above (mean age 69.8 ± 7.3 years) in five peri-urban communities in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, Ghana.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- October 14, 2026
Diet, grip strength and blood pressure in 200 older Ghanaian adults
The study asked how dietary intake relates to handgrip strength and elevated blood pressure among community-dwelling older adults in five peri-urban communities in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, Ghana. Data came from 200 adults aged 60 and above; mean age was 69.8 ± 7.3 years. Dietary intake was assessed with a multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recall, and physical activity, handgrip strength and blood pressure were measured using standardized procedures. The authors note that evidence on diet in relation to functional and cardiometabolic health in this setting remains limited.
Supporting source [1]
Nutrient shortfalls and diet quality in the sample
More than half of participants did not meet the dietary reference intake for protein, fat, fiber, magnesium, potassium and vitamin E, and no participant met the dietary reference intake for calcium. The prevalence of inadequate minimum dietary diversity and inadequate mean adequacy ratio each exceeded 50%. The authors conclude that dietary inadequacy was common in this peri-urban Ghanaian setting.
Supporting source [1]
Associations with handgrip strength and elevated blood pressure
Energy, protein, carbohydrate and selenium intake differed significantly by handgrip strength status. In adjusted binary logistic regression, better diet quality indicators were associated with normal handgrip strength and lower odds of elevated blood pressure. These are associations from a cross-sectional design, not evidence of cause and effect. The authors call for nutrition-focused strategies and further longitudinal or intervention studies to clarify the role of dietary intake in functional and cardiometabolic health among older adults.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a cross-sectional study, so the reported associations cannot establish cause and effect. Details such as follow-up and how diet quality indicators were defined are not reported in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Anim-Fofie M, Otoo GE, Harrison OA, Azagba-Nyako JM, Steiner-Asiedu M, Saalia FK. · europepmc.org · October 14, 2026