Nutritional studies on long-term surgical patients with special reference to the intake of vitamin B12 and folic acid.

A nutritional survey performed in 46 elderly long-term surgical patients in an orthopedic ward showed that, although a sufficient hospital diet was served, the intakes of vitamin B12 were borderline, while the intakes of folate were inadequate inmost patients. Low energy intake combined with a high consumption of titbits in bedridden patients was assumed to be responsible for this malnourishment.