Iron status of hospitalized and housebound elderly people: dietary intake, metabolic balances, haematological and biochemical indices.

The iron status of housebound and hospitalized elderly people was studied by duplicate diet analysis, metabolic balance, biochemical and haematological investigations. Evidence of biochemical iron deficiency in the hospital group was accompanied by low dietary intake and negative metabolic balance. Metabolic equilibrium in the housebound group was seen with intakes similar to those found in healthy elderly though biochemical measures suggested a borderline iron deficient state.