Nutritional status in elderly population in kibbutzim.

This study was conducted in order to assess the nutritional status of thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, carotene, retinol, ascorbic acid, plasma iron, hemoglobin and plasma albumin of the elderly living in two cooperative farms (Kibbutzim), in Israel. Blood samples from elderly subjects aged 60 to 85 (33 women, 26 men), were collected for analysis. Thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine status were assessed by using enzymatic activation coefficient. Transketolase was used for determining thiamin status, glutathione reductase for determining riboflavin status and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase for pyridoxine status. Transketolase activation coefficient ranged from 1.05-1.59 with a mean 1.18 and SEM 0.02, glutathione reductase coefficient ranged from 1.08-1.50 with a mean 1.25 and SEM 0.07 and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activation coefficient ranged from 1.71-2.15 with a mean 1.83 and SEM 0.06. Deficient levels were found in the following: Leucocyte ascorbic acid 5% of the population, hemoglobin 18%, plasma iron 20%, carotene 32% and plasma retinol 20%, thiamin 14% and riboflavin 32%. No deficient state was found in pyridoxine.