Riboflavin status in a group of institutionalized elderly.

We studied the riboflavin intake and biochemical status in a representative sample (20 males and 52 females) of institutionalized elderly people (aged 68-95) living in the Autonomic Community of Madrid. The riboflavin density of the diet was in general higher than the recommended amount, so the quality of the diet, related to riboflavin, can be considered satisfactory, and probably the caloric deficit is the major cause of the low intakes found. We found no correlation between the intake and biochemical status of riboflavin. The elderly with erythrocyte glutathione reductase greater than 1.2 are not those who have lower intakes. The cause of the deficit could be the different malabsorption problems and diseases that affect people as age increases.