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Predictors of micronutrient status in men and women over 75 years old living in the community*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Geraldine McNeill ,
Juliet Vyvyan ,
Heather Peace ,
Linda McKie ,
Gwyn Seymour ,
Judith Hendry  and
Isobel MacPherson
Geraldine McNeill*
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Juliet Vyvyan
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Heather Peace
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Linda McKie
Affiliation:
Departments of General Practice, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Gwyn Seymour
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Judith Hendry
Affiliation:
Community Dietetics, Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Aberdeen, UK
Isobel MacPherson
Affiliation:
Departments of General Practice, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
*
†Corresponding author: Dr Geraldine McNeill, fax +44 1224 663658, email g.mcneill@abdn.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Serum ferritin, serum vitamin B12, erythrocyte folate, plasma vitamin C and plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were measured in 208 men and 197 women, >75 years old and living in the community, in order to assess micronutrient status. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, demispan and mid-upper arm circumference) were made and a 114-item questionnaire covering a wide range of health and diet-related topics was administered by an interviewer. Only 4% of subjects had a BMI <20, but the prevalence of marginal deficiency of the micronutrients ranged from 7% for Fe to 47% for vitamin D. There was no association between low micronutrient status (defined as being in the lowest third of the distribution of micronutrient status) and having BMI or mid-upper arm circumference in the lowest third of the distribution for any of the nutrients. Leaving food on the plate was strongly associated with both low Fe status and low vitamin D status. Having breakfast cereal less than once per week was strongly associated with low folate status, while having fresh fruit juice less than once per week, having had less than two portions of fruits and vegetables the previous day and believing that food is not important for health were strongly associated with low vitamin C status. Low vitamin D status was strongly associated with a wide range of general health and disability measures. Having a weekly household income of less than £150 was associated with low status of Fe, folate, vitamin C and vitamin D.

Keywords

Nutritional deficiencyAnthropometric measurementsElderly
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 88 , Issue 5 , November 2002 , pp. 555 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2002

Footnotes

*

Copies of the full questionnaire used in the present study are available from the corresponding author on request.

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