Abstract
Dietary intake and blood levels of some vitamins were assessed in 208 elderly subjects (mean age 78.4±8.6 years) living in four chronic care institutions in Hong Kong. Compared to elderly free-living subjects, both men and women had lower intakes of thiamine, nicotinic and ascorbic acid, while in addition men had lower intakes of riboflavin and retinol equivalent. Plasma folate and 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD) concentrations were lower among both men and women in institutions. Men also had lower plasma retinol concentration and poorer thiamine status, while women had lower plasma ascorbic acid and cyanocobalamin concentrations. Vitamin supplementation and ability to self feed did not greatly affect vitamin nutritional status in this group of institutionalized subjects. Compared to elderly Caucasians living in chronic care institutions, elderly Chinese had poorer riboflavin, pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, vitamin A, and ascorbic acid status, but better cyanocobalamin, folic acid, and vitamin D status. Different dietary habits and quantity of sunshine probably contribute to these differences. Improvement in the vitamin nutritional status of elderly Chinese in chronic care institutions is desirable.
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