The trace element content of hospital meals and potential low intake by elderly patients.

The metabolizable energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron and manganese contents of a typical day's menu offered to patients in a teaching hospital were analysed. Results obtained were compared with the appropriate UK Recommended Daily Amounts (RDA), or where no British standards were available, American Recommended Daily Dietary Allowances (RDDA) for magnesium, phosphorus and zinc and American Estimated Safe and Adequate Dietary Intakes (ESADI) for copper and manganese. Patients on an acute geriatric ward selected meals, which, even if consumed entirely, provided approximately half the daily recommended dietary allowances for zinc and copper, less than the recommended daily amounts for iron and magnesium, but more than adequate content of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus and manganese.