Estimation of vitamin needs—riboflavin, vitamin B6 and ascorbic acid-according to blood parameters and functional-cognitive and emotional indices in a selected well-established group of elderly in a home for the aged in Israel.

Abstract

On the basis of limited available data, calculation of vitamin needs based on regression lines resulted in estimates (mg/day) of: > 150 for ascorbic acid, > 3 for riboflavin, > 3 for vitamin B6. Expanding the current practice of supplementing micronutrients at a level of 100% RDA (in tablet form) that already exists in some elderly societies should be considered after a comprehensive study in a large group of elderly people.

Dietary intake and eating patterns of elderly people in Israel: who is at nutritional risk?

“…In a nutritional survey of older people recently conducted by Maccabi Health Services in Tel Aviv (Endevelt et al, 2001), over 40% were found to consume less than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for energy, protein and calcium. Other studies (Dror et al, 1996a, Havivi et al, 1985 confirmed these findings in kibbutzim and in what are widely considered well-established homes for the aged. The populations examined in these studies were, for the most part, affluent and sample sizes were small, unrepresentative of the present Israeli population, a mixed population with a relatively high percentage of new immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU).…”

Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

“…The cognitively impaired subgroup included 3 RCTS [ 37 , 38 , 39 ], 4 prospective [ 26 , 40 , 41 ], 4 cross-sectional [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ] and 4 case-control [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ] studies ( Table 1 ). The cognitively intact subgroup included 2 RCTS [ 50 , 51 ], 21 prospective [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], 13 cross-sectional [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 ], and no case-control studies ( Table 2 ). Table 3 summarises the ...…”

“…Eleven studies [ 26 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 47 , 48 , 49 ] used the MMSE and six [ 37 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 , 49 ] used alternate forms of cognitive assessment. In the cognitively intact samples, 11 out of 36 used blood tests to measure vitamin C status [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 76 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ], and 25 studies conducted FFQs [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 77 , 84 , 85 ]. A series of cognitive tests were conducted in these studies.…”

Roles of Vitamins E and C on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cognitive Performance

“…Vitamin C has been shown to signi cantly improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation in diabetics, perhaps by reducing excess superoxide production and thereby decreasing levels of nitric oxide inactivation. [85][86][87][88] Higher vitamin C plasma concentrations have been signi cantly associated with better memory performance in patients with dementia. 39,89,90 Cognitive performance in normal older people, as well as cognitive decline in Alzheimer patients, appears to be positively associated with vitamin C intake.…”

“…As such, long-term use of vitamin E and vitamin C supplements may be required to protect against vascular dementia and to improve cognitive function in late life. Dror and coworkers 87,194 examined supplements of micronutrients, including vitamins E and C, at a level of 100% RDA in 12 elderly people (aged 65-87). Medical, biochemical, nutritional, functional, cognitive, and behavioral parameters were established at baseline and 42 days following supplementation with retinol, thiamin, ribo avin, vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin C (45 mg/day), vitamin D, vitamin E (12 mg/day), and microelements.…”