Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
05:53
Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Diet and nutritional status in elderly Zimbabweans
T J Allain1, A O Wilson, Z A Gomo
1Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe School of Medicine, Avondale, Harare.
Age and Ageing
|February 18, 1998
Summary
Elderly Africans
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science and public health research focusing on gerontology in developing nations.
Background:
- Nutritional studies in developing countries predominantly target women and children, leaving a knowledge gap regarding the elderly African population.
- Limited data exists on the dietary habits and nutritional status of older adults in Africa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the diet, anthropometric, haematological, and biochemical markers of nutrition and social factors in elderly Zimbabweans.
- To investigate the influence of socio-economic factors on the health and nutritional status of this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional community survey was conducted in rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe.
- 278 subjects aged over 60 years were recruited via random cluster sampling.
- Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements (BMI, WHR, SFT) and blood analyses (serum albumin, calcium, lipids, vitamins B12, folate) were performed.
Main Results:
- The staple diet consisted of maize meal and vegetables, with infrequent protein and milk consumption in a significant portion of the participants.
- Urban residents exhibited higher anthropometric measurements (BMI, WHR, SFT) and serum lipid concentrations compared to rural residents.
- Dietary patterns and nutritional indicators were influenced by age, income, education, and area of residence, with urban dwellers showing generally higher values for most measured parameters.
Conclusions:
- Dietary patterns, anthropometric status, and biochemical profiles of elderly Zimbabweans are significantly shaped by their area of residence, age, income, and educational attainment.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted nutritional interventions for the elderly in developing countries, considering socio-economic disparities.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires collaborative and comprehensive management. CKD progresses through stages and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) if untreated. Interprofessional collaboration and patient education are crucial, enabling patients to manage their health and improve their quality of life.Diagnostic approach for chronic kidney diseaseThe diagnosis of CKD primarily focuses on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which assesses kidney function by measuring how well...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...