The importance of duodenal diverticula in the elderly.

All barium meal examinations performed, in patients aged greater than 65 years, in one year in one Health District are reviewed. There were 39 cases of duodenal diverticula. One case of osteomalacia and folate deficiency was discovered and this patient had evidence of small bowel bacterial overgrowth. In the remaining cases showing evidence of nutritional deficiency, other factors were probably responsible. The evidence for an association between deficiencies and duodenal diverticula is discussed, and it is concluded that these structures are rarely responsible for nutritional deficiencies in the elderly.