Nutritional evaluation of B groups of vitamins in institutionalised aged.

The nutritional consequences of institutionalisation of the aged are poorly defined apart from hospital admissions. Food intake has been measured and correlated with biochemical assessment of B group vitamin function. Results reveal the dietary intake of thiamine and riboflavin were barely adequate while pyridoxine was deficient in 90%. Enzyme function tests revealed deficiencies at cellular level in up to 60% of subjects. In view of the increasing numbers in the ageing population these trends in nutrition require further study.