JACN Did you know that you can get alerts when a new issue is online?
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Huang, Y.-C.
Right arrow Articles by Su, K.-H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Huang, Y.-C.
Right arrow Articles by Su, K.-H.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 20, No. 2, 135-142 (2001)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Original Research

Nutritional Status of Functionally Dependent and Nonfunctionally Dependent Elderly in Taiwan

Yi-Chia Huang, RD, PhD, Song-Lin Wueng, RD, MS, Chu-Chyn Ou, RD, MS, Chien-Hsiang Cheng, MD and Kuo-Hsiung Su, PhD

School of Nutrition and Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College (Y.-C.H., S.-L.W., C.-C.O., K.H.S.), Taichung, TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Veterans General Hospital (C.-H.C.), Taichung, TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Yi-Chia Huang, No. 110 Sec 1 Chien-Kuo N. Road, School of Nutrition and Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College, Taichung, 402 TAIWAN. E-mail: ych{at}mercury.csmc.edu.tw

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare nutritional status of the functionally dependent elderly with those nonfunctionally dependent elderly by assessing nutrient intake, anthropometric measurements, hematological and biochemical parameters, and the nutritional risk index (NRI).

Methods: Ninety-six volunteers (42 functionally dependent elderly, 54 nonfunctionally dependent elderly) participated in this study. The items of activity of daily living (ADL) were assessed to determine functional status. Demographic and health data were collected at the time of interview. Subjects completed 24-hour diet recall and food frequency questionnaires. Height, weight and skinfold thickness measurements were taken. Hematological and biochemical parameters were measured. The NRI was then calculated.

Results: Osteoporosis and hypertension were the most frequently reported chronic diseases. A small proportion of the elderly with functional dependence (9.5%) and with nonfunctional dependence (13%) had a body mass index (BMI) (<=21 kg/m2), indicating they were underweight. There were no significant differences in nutrient intake between the two groups. However, a higher percentage of the functionally dependent elderly had a nutrient intake of less than 75% of the Taiwan Recommended Daily Nutrient Allowance (RDNA). The functionally dependent group had a higher prevalence of malnutrition than the nonfunctionally dependent group (44.7% vs. 25%) based on the NRI.

Conclusions: These functionally dependent elderly people exhibited a poorer nutritional status than the nonfunctionally dependent elderly. The elderly with functional dependence were at risk for inadequate iron intake and abnormal serum triglyceride concentrations; they were also at greater risk for chronic diseases and had a greater need for medications.

Key words: nutritional status, activities of daily living, functionally dependent, nonfunctionally dependent, elderly






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2001 by the American College of Nutrition.