Vitamin status of older women

Abstract

A study of the nutritional vitamin status of older women included 46 patients in nursing homes and 24 residents of private homes. The age range was 62 through 99 years. Calculated values for the mean daily caloric and vitamin intakes indicated that vitamin A and thiamin were the vitamins that compared less favorably with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Values for vitamin A and C in sera and for thiamin, riboflavin, and N-methyl nicotinamide excretion were compared with standards of adequacy, Vitamin A values in sera of 14% of all subjects were "deficient" or "low". All serum ascorbic acid levels were "acceptable". Thiamin and riboflavin concentrations in urine of 17 and 15% of the subjects, respectively, were "deficient" or "low". Except for one subject, all N-methyl nicotamide values were "acceptable". In general, values for caloric and vitamin intakes and for corresponding levels of vitamins in sera or urine of patients in nursing homes did not differ significantly from analogous values obtained for subjects in private homes. The effect of age and income and education level are discussed.

Elemental Composition (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Se, and I) of Daily Diet Samples from Some Old People's Homes in Slovenia

“…In our study, mean Ca intake was found to be greater then two-thirds of the RDA and this result is consistent with other studies that investigated elderly people (Greger, 1977;Brown et al, 1977;Harrill and Cervone, 1977;Justice et al, 1974;Harvill et al, 1976;Stiedmann et al, 1978). In 17 meals the Ca content was below two-thirds of the recommendation.…”

“…Low dietary intake has been observed earlier for institutionalized and free living elderly people (Greger, 1977;Brown et al, 1977;Harrill and Cervone, 1977;Justice et al, 1974;Harvill et al, 1976;Stiedmann et al, 1978;Greger and Sciscoe, 1977). The RDAs for zinc are 15 mg for men and 12 mg for women.…”

Prospective study of aetiological factors in burning mouth syndrome

“…The basis for the development of 1245 these deficiencies is still not clear. 24 Our study shows the importance of recognising impaired glucose tolerance or undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Patients had no classic symptoms of diabetes such as polyuria or polydipsia.…”

Retinol (Vitamin A) Supplements in the Elderly

“…[102] Although supplement users tend to have higher levels of serum retinol than non-users, biochemical deficiency of retinol is unusual even in non-users. [87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103] Minor differences in serum retinol levels between the sexes have been reported [94] but not consistently. [87,89,90] ~-Carotene status was also evaluated in several of the nutritional surveys previously mentioned.…”

“…adjuvant) even when retinol status is ' normal' )"3,"4] This question of adjuvancy is critical since the vast majority of the elderly have normal serum retinol levels [87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103] and excellent liver stores. !…”