Nutritional status of institutionalized and noninstitutionalized aged in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abstract

A multifaceted analysis of the nutritional status of 196 subjects, aged over 65, institutionalized in hospitals, residential accommodation, and sheltered dwellings and of noninstitutionalized subjects was undertaken. Subjects of hospital and home, with or without multivitamin supplementation, wer1e grouped separately. The study comprised of 3-day weighed dietary record, biochemical determinations, and clinical examination. The energy intake of females of hospitals and sheltered dwellings was comparatively low. Dietary nutrients most lacking were potassium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B₆. Calcium and vitamin A intake were adequate. Clinical deficiency was rare. Subclinical deficiency was highly prevalent and the deficiency incidence was: anemia 18.6%, ascorbic acid 29.2%, thiamin 13.8%, riboflavin 7.1%, vitamin B₆ 42.3%, and vitamin D 47.0%. Some kind of mineral or vitamin deficiency was observed biochemically in 91.3% of the nonmultivitamin supplemented group and 64.3% of the multivitamin supplemented group. Regular intake of multivitamin raised the blood levels of riboflavin and ascorbic acid to normal in all, but failed to raise the thiamin and vitamin Be levels to the normal acceptable levels in 2.9 and 20% of the subjects, respectively. Suggestions are made concerning possibly higher recommended allowance.