Intake of protein in geriatric long-term care patients

Twenty-nine chronically diseased patients with an average age of 84 years living in a long-term care nursing hospital were examined. Urinary nitrogen was determined in 24-hour urinary samples to estimate protein intake. The average estimated intake of protein was 47 g (range 32-63 g), corresponding to 0.87 per kg body weight (range 0.57-1.14 g). Ten patients showed an intake of less than 0.8 g per kg body weight, regarded to be a too low protein intake considering the age and chronic diseases of the patients.