NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF THE AGED IN THE UNITED-STATES OF AMERICA

An attempt was made to evaluate the nutritional status of the aged based on three large-scale federally sponsored surveys and several smaller studies. The evaluation is confounded by economic, socio-cultural, and genetic differences of the elderly as well as lack of agreement in methodology used and interpretation of the data obtained. Some general conclusions, however, can be reached. Calories, calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A and ascorbic acid were consumed in amounts less than two-thirds of the RDA by substantial percentages of the elderly (approaching 50% for many nutrients). Protein intake tended to be adequate. Hemoglobin values were low for approximately 1 out of 10 elderly whites and 1 out of 4 elderly blacks. Biochemical indices of vitamin status were much less likely to be inadequate, i.e., 1% to 17% of the populations surveyed. Obesity, apparently related to physical inactivity rather than caloric excess, was a major finding. Inadequate nutrient intakes of the aged tended to be associated with inadequate income, being female and/or being black. © 1979 American Aging Association, Inc.