Dietary intake and other determinants of blood vitamins in an elderly population

The relationships of diet, plasma lipids, age, gender, ponderal index, cigarette and alcohol consumption, drug use and infections to blood concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and vitamins B1, B2, B6 status were studied among 291 men and women aged 60-82 years. Statistically significant correlations between dietary intake and blood indicator levels were found respectively for beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, vitamins B2 and B6, but not for retinol and thiamin, when the effects of other parameters were controlled. The main other determinants were cigarette consumption which had a negative effect on status for retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and vitamin B2; alcohol consumption for retinol, vitamin B6 (positive effect on status) and beta-carotene (decrease of plasma level); plasma lipids and use of hypolipaemic drugs for fat-soluble vitamins; ponderal index for beta-carotene and vitamin B6; gender and use of antibiotics for ascorbic acid. The apparent relation between gender and level of retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and vitamin B6 status was not any more significant after adjustment for alcohol or cigarette consumption. Tobacco and alcohol appear to be associated factors which should be controlled for in studies investigating relations between these vitamins and diseases influenced by smoking and drinking habits.