Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T00:47:09.241Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Micronutrients: highlights and research challenges from the 1994–5 National Diet and Nutrition Survey of people aged 65 years and over

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

C. J. Bates ,
A. Prentice ,
T. J. Cole ,
J. C. van der Pols ,
W. Doyle ,
S. Finch ,
G. Smithers  and
P. C. Clarke
C. J. Bates*
Affiliation:
MRC Human Nutrition Research (formerly the MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory), Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK
A. Prentice
Affiliation:
MRC Human Nutrition Research (formerly the MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory), Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK
T. J. Cole
Affiliation:
MRC Human Nutrition Research (formerly the MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory), Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK
J. C. van der Pols
Affiliation:
MRC Human Nutrition Research (formerly the MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory), Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK
W. Doyle
Affiliation:
Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, University of North London, London N7 8DB, UK
S. Finch
Affiliation:
Social and Community Planning Research, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0AX, UK
G. Smithers
Affiliation:
Nutrition Unit, Joint Food Safety and Standards Group, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ergon House c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK
P. C. Clarke
Affiliation:
Nutrition Unit, Department of Health, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LW, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Chris Bates, fax +44 (0)1223 426617, email Chris.Bates@mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The aims of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey series are summarized, and the new National Diet and Nutrition Survey of people aged 65 years and over is explored, with particular emphasis on micronutrient intakes and status indices. Mean nutrient intakes were generally satisfactory for most micronutrients, but intakes of vitamin D, Mg, K and Cu were low. Intakes of vitamin D were far below the reference nutrient intake for people aged 65 years and over, and there was also biochemical evidence of vitamin D deficiency, for 8 % of free-living and 37 % of institution participants, attributed partly to limited exposure to sunlight. A substantial proportion of people living in institutions had inadequate biochemical status indices, notably for vitamin C, Fe and folate. Relationships between intake and status were close for vitamins. Mineral intakes did not correlate well with currently used status indices. Some intakes and indices, especially those of vitamin C, carotenoids, Na and K, were strongly correlated with socio-economic status and with north–south gradients in Britain. Future research challenges should address the functional and health significance of low intakes and sub-optimal biochemical indices for certain micronutrients, especially for people living in institutions; the shortcomings of mineral status indices especially as indicators of mineral intake; the social and geographical inequalities of micronutrient intakes and status, and why micronutrient status deteriorates with increasing age. The answers to these questions will help to define the characteristics of nutritional risk for older people in Britain, and to clarify future needs for education and intervention.

Keywords

MicronutrientsNational Diet and Nutrition SurveyElderly
Type
Review article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , July 1999 , pp. 7 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1999

References

Bailey, AL, Maisey, S, Southon, S, Wright, AJA, Finglas, PM & Fulcher, RA (1997) Relationships between micronutrient intake and biochemical indicators of nutrient adequacy in a ‘free-living’ elderly UK population. British Journal of Nutrition 77, 225–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bates, CJ, Fleming, M, Paul, AA & Mandal, AR (1980) Folate status and its relation to vitamin C in healthy elderly men and women. Age and Ageing 9, 241–248.Google Scholar
Bates, CJ, Prentice, A, van der Pols, JC, Walmsley, C, Pentieva, KD, Finch, S, Smithers, G & Clarke, PC (1998 a) Estimation of the use of dietary supplements in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey: People Aged 65 Years and Over. An observed paradox and a recommendation. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52, 917–923.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bates, CJ, Rutishauser, IHF, Black, AE, Paul, AA, Mandal, AR & Patnaik, BK (1979) Long term vitamin status and dietary intake of healthy elderly subjects. 2. Vitamin C. British Journal of Nutrition 42, 43–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bates, CJ, Walmsley, C, Prentice, A & Finch, S (1998 b) Does vitamin C reduce blood pressure? Results of a large study of people aged 65 or older. Journal of Hypertension 16, 925–932.Google Scholar
Bates, CJ, Walmsley, C, Prentice, A & Finch, S (1999) Use of medicines by older people in a large British national survey, and their relation to vitamin status indices Public Health Nutrition (In the Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Health (1991) Dietary Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 41. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1992) The Nutrition of Elderly People. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 43. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1994) Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 46. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1998) Nutrition and Bone Health with Particular to Calcium and Vitamin D. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 49. London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Social Security (1972) A Nutrition Survey of the Elderly. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 3. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Social Security (1979) Nutrition and Health in Old Age. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 16. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Finch, S, Doyle, W, Lowe, C, Bates, CJ, Prentice, A, Smithers, G & Clarke, PC (1998) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: People Aged 65 Years and Over. Vol. 1: Report of the Diet and Nutrition Survey. London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Gregory, JR, Collins, DL, Davies, PSW, Hughes, JM & Clarke, PC (1995) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Children Aged 1·5 to 4·5 years. Vol. 1: Report of the Diet and Nutrition Survey. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Gregory, J, Foster, K, Tyler, H & Wiseman, M (1990) The Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Hughes, JM, Smithers, G, Gay, C, Clarke, PC, Smith, P, Lowe, C, Prentice, A, Bates, C, Whitelaw, M & Bingham, S (1995) The British National Diet and Nutrition Survey of people aged 65 years or over: protocol and feasibility study. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 54, 631–643.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Madigan, SM, Tracey, F, McNulty, H, Eaton-Evans, J, Coulter, J, McCartney, H & Strain, JJ (1998) Riboflavin and vitamin B-6 intakes and status and biochemical response to riboflavin supplementation in free-living elderly people. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68, 389–395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutishauser, IHE, Bates, CJ, Paul, AA, Black, AE, Mandal, AR & Patnaik, BK (1979) Long term vitamin status and dietary intake of healthy elderly subjects. 1. Riboflavin. British Journal of Nutrition 42, 33–42.Google Scholar
Smith, P & Lowe, C (1998) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: People Aged 65 Years and Over: A Report of the Feasibility Study (January–April 1994). London: Social and Community Planning Research.Google Scholar
Smithers, G, Finch, S, Doyle, W, Lowe, C, Bates, CJ, Prentice, A & Clarke, PC (1998) The National Diet and Nutrition Survey: People Aged 65 Years and Over. Nutrition and Food Science 3, 133–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steele, JG, Sheiham, A, Marcenes, W & Walls, AWG (1998) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: People Aged 65 Years and Over. Vol. 2: Report of the Oral Health Survey. London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Wright, AJA, Southon, S, Bailey, AL, Finglas, PM, Maisey, S & Fulcher, RA (1995) Nutrient intake and biochemical status of non-institutionalized elderly subjects in Norwich: comparison with younger adults and adolescents from the same general community. British Journal of Nutrition 74, 453–475.Google Scholar