A dietary study of the elderly in the City of Roskilde 1988/1989 (II). A nutritional risk assessment.

In winter 1988/1989, a total of 435 randomly selected men and women aged 70-75 years and living in the city of Roskilde were invited to participate in a diet and health study. Nutritional status was assessed through a dietary interview, antropometric and biochemical measurements on 188 of the invited elderly. Assessed in relation to dietary recommendations, the average fat intake was found to be high (41% energy), whereas intakes of vitamin B6 and D were found to be below recommended levels in 22-26% of the subjects. The prevalences of obesity (12% had BMI over 30 kg/m2) and elevated levels of serum cholesterol (16% had serum levels over 7.5 mmol/l) were relatively high, the percentages being higher for females than for males. Many of the elderly had low levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in plasma (30% under 30 nmol/l) indicating a marginal status. The prevalences of low blood levels of vitamin B6 (40% under 30 mmol/l) and betacarotene (26% under 0.3 mumol/l) were also high among the elderly. The prevalence of anaemia was 3%. It is concluded that osteoporosis-related parameters and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are prevalent among the elderly in Denmark. The origin of these risk factors have to be studied in more detail, and consequences of any changes occurring must be monitored.