Zinc and protein status in the elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Adequate protein and zinc are crucial for maintaining health in elderly individuals.
• Nutritional status can decline with age, impacting overall well-being.
• Community-based and institutionalized elderly populations may have different nutritional challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the protein and zinc status of elderly Australians.
• To investigate the relationship between dietary intake and serum/plasma concentrations of protein and zinc.
• To identify key nutritional considerations for aged persons with low serum albumin.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 24 community-based and 66 institutionalized elderly Australians (aged 60-99 years).
• Assessment of protein and zinc nutritional status through dietary intake analysis and biochemical markers (serum albumin, plasma zinc).
• Statistical analysis to determine correlations between nutrient intake and biomarker concentrations.

Main Results:

• Serum albumin concentrations showed significant positive correlations with both protein intake (r = 0.36, P < 0.001) and zinc intake (r = 0.33, P < 0.001).
• Plasma zinc concentrations did not significantly correlate with either zinc intake (r = 0.12, P > 0.05) or protein intake (r = 0.007, P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Serum albumin is a useful indicator reflecting both protein and zinc intake in the elderly.
• Plasma zinc levels may not accurately reflect recent zinc intake in this population.
• For elderly individuals with low serum albumin, assessing both protein and zinc intake is recommended for nutritional management.