American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 31, 2186-2197, Copyright © 1978 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Nutritional status of elderly residents in Missouri

MB Kohrs, R O'Neal, A Preston, D Eklund and O Abrahams

Nutritional assessment of white persons over 59 who participated in the 1973 Missouri Nutrition Survey was based upon biochemical measurements, dietary intakes using food frequency histories, anthropometric measurements, and a dental examination. There were three major nutritionally related problems: poor dental health, obesity, and anemia. The mean for DMF, periodental index, and oral hygiene index for males was 20.5, 4.9, and 3.9, respectively; for females, 17.6, 3.6, and 2.5. Over one-half of both sexes were edentulous. Of the women 59% were greater than 119% of desirable weight compared to 22% of the men. Using guidelines from the Ten-State Nutrition Survey, the following percentages of men had low blood levels: 20, hemoglobin and serum iron; 2, plasma vitamin A; 6, plasma carotene; 1, serum vitamin C; and 0, serum albumin. The percent of women with low biochemical levels were: 11, hemoglobin; 10, serum iron; 7, plasma vitamin A; 1, serum vitamin C; and 2, serum albumin. None of the subjects had low or deficient levels of erythrocyte glutathione reductase. One-half of the women compared to one-fifth of the men had consumed diets with one or more nutrients below 67% of the 1974 Recommended Dietary Allowances.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Doty, P Shaman, S. Applebaum, R Giberson, L Siksorski, and L Rosenberg Smell identification ability: changes with age Science, December 21, 1984; 226(4681): 1441 - 1443. [Abstract] [PDF]