Nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and beta-carotene) in elderly Japanese

The nutritional status with respect to vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene was examined in elderly Japanese subjects in two institutions at Osaka and Kyoto. Only the plasma vitamin E level has been determined in the majority of previous investigations. In this study, vitamin E levels were determined in red blood cells (RBCs), platelets (PLT), mononuclear cells (MN), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), and buccal mucosal cells (BMC), using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Alpha-tocopherol levels in plasma and RBCs did not differ between elderly and young adults, while those in PLT, MN, and BMC were lower in the elderly. Thus, the vitamin E status of elderly Japanese individuals appears to be inadequate of the cellular levels. The daily vitamin E intake of the elderly subjects was below the recommended dietary allowance for the Japanese population. Plasma levels of retinol and beta-carotene were also assessed. The vitamin A status did not differ between elderly and young adults on the basis of the levels of retinol and retinol-binding protein (RBP). The daily intake of retinol (as retinol equivalent) by the elderly subjects was more than 2,000 IU. With respect to beta-carotene, there was a large sex difference (female > male), which was more prominent in the young adults and became smaller in the elderly. This sex difference was partly attributable to a difference in plasma total lipids. No clear age-related trend was noted.