Nutrient Intakes of an Elderly Nursing Home Population

A dietary nutrient intake study of ninety-five residents of a nursing home in rural community was conducted. Nutrient intakes were determined for seven consecutive days using the method of weighing food served and weighing food left by subjects. Patients on in the study. Snacks consumed between meals and vitamin and mineral supplements were included in the nutrient intakes. Height, weight, body mass index, tricep skinfold measurement and serum blood laboratory data were obtained for each subject. Activity levels were also determined. Results showed the mean caloric intake of the men was 2152+331. For the women the mean caloric intake was 1869+251. Nutrients less 100 percent standard (RDA 1974) were energy, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, potassium, fiber and fat for the men and for the women energy, calcium, iron, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C, potassium, fiber and fat. Mean Index of Nutritional Quality values for selected nutrients indicated that for men protein, vitamins A, C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron, calcium and phosphorus and INQ ratios of 1.0 or greater. INQ ratios for the women indicated that protein, vitamin A, C, riboflavin, niacin, iron, calcium, and phosphorus were greater than 1.0. Correlations were found between BMI and tricep skinfold measurement and a weak correlation between kilocalories and BMI for both men and women. All of the mean serum blood values were within normal limits except for albumin. Further studies using these methods will need to be done to determine whether high caloric intake of both men and women compared to other studies of nutrient intake of elderly subjects was possibly the result of more careful analysis or because subjects were more active