Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 13, Issue 6 646-657, Copyright © 1994 by American College of Nutrition

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Extensive laboratory assessment of nutritional status in fit, health-conscious, elderly people living in the Paris area. Research Group on Aging

M. J. Cals, P. N. Bories, M. Devanlay, N. Desveaux, L. Luciani, M. Succari, J. C. Duche, C. de Jaeger, F. Blonde-Cynober and C. Coudray-Lucas
Hopital Corentin Celton, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, France.

OBJECTIVE: Nutritional status-related biological indexes were measured in fit, health-conscious elderly subjects in order to establish reference values for people over 70 years. SUBJECTS: 103 men and 90 women aged 70-89 years living freely in the Paris area volunteered to participate. METHODS: Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric and biochemical methods. RESULTS: Serum protein and amino acid status was similar to that of young adults, with only 5.2% of the elderly subjects showing transthyretin concentrations < 0.20 g/L, as well as decreased essential amino acid levels. Iron status, assessed in terms of serum and erythrocyte ferritin levels, total iron binding capacity and erythrocyte protoporphyrin tended to be satisfactory, but iron depletion was detected in 8.8% of the subjects. Serum ferritin levels were elevated in 19.7% of the subjects. Folate and vitamin B12 status was satisfactory, while hypovitaminosis D was observed in 48.2% of cases. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that, in aging uncomplicated by disease, nutritional status is similar to that in younger adults, although the range of values tended to be wider, with a higher risk of certain nutrient deficiencies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.-M. Liu, S. E Hankinson, M. J Stampfer, N. Rifai, W. C Willett, and J. Ma Body iron stores and their determinants in healthy postmenopausal US women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2003; 78(6): 1160 - 1167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J Fleming, P. F Jacques, K. L Tucker, J. M Massaro, R. B D'Agostino Sr, P. W. Wilson, and R. J Wood Iron status of the free-living, elderly Framingham Heart Study cohort: an iron-replete population with a high prevalence of elevated iron stores Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2001; 73(3): 638 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ahluwalia, M. A. Gordon, G. Handte, M. Mahlon, N.-Q. Li, J. L. Beard, D. Weinstock, and A. C. Ross Iron Status and Stores Decline with Age in Lewis Rats J. Nutr., September 1, 2000; 130(9): 2378 - 2383. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Pailla, F. Blonde-Cynober, C. Aussel, J.-P. De Bandt, and L. Cynober Branched-Chain Keto-Acids and Pyruvate in Blood: Measurement by HPLC with Fluorimetric Detection and Changes in Older Subjects Clin. Chem., June 1, 2000; 46(6): 848 - 853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-L. Chao, T.-L. Kuo, and Y.-T. Lee Effects of Methionine-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia on Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and Oxidative Status in Healthy Adults Circulation, February 8, 2000; 101(5): 485 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]