Nutrition and aging: nutritional status of "apparently healthy" elderly (Dutch nutrition surveillance system)

In a nationwide survey the nutritional status was assessed of 539 apparently healthy, independently living elderly aged 65-79 years. Anthropometric data showed no energy deficits. The prevalence of anemia was 4 and 1% among men and women, respectively. Many elderly showed a low level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in plasma (less than 31 nmol/L: men 35%; women 43%), indicating a marginal status. Although the prevalence of low blood levels of folate, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, and total carotenoids was higher among the elderly than among younger adults, clear (clinical) signs of nutritional deficiencies were not observed. Prevalence of obesity (13%), hypercholesterolemia (38%), and hypertension (63%) was found to be high, the percentages being higher for women than for men. Several indicators of the nutritional status appeared to differ among age groups. It is concluded that few differences can be considered as being due to physiological aging, which finding should be reflected in reference values for elderly people.