Nutritional status in a healthy elderly population: dietary and supplemental intakes

Dietary and supplemental intakes were assessed from 3-day food records collected from 270 free-living, middle income and healthy men and women over 60 yr of age residing in the Albuquerque, NM vicinity. The 1980 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) were used to assess adequacy of intake. Energy intake, as percentage of the RDA, was 90 +/- 23 (mean +/- SD) for men (n = 125) and 87 +/- 22 for women (n = 145). Mean daily protein intake was 83 g for men and 67 g for women and only 11% of men and 14% of women failed to receive at least 100% of the RDA for protein. Frequency and amount of vitamin and mineral supplementation was substantial. Approximately 60% of both men and women ingested one or more supplements; vitamins C and E were the most popular. In general, dietary intakes in this population appear to be adequate with the possible exception of vitamin D and calcium intakes in women.