Vitamin A intake and body composition in community-dwelling older adults

Objective. - Aging brings changes in body composition that involve the gradual loss of lean mass and increase in fat mass. Vitamin A intake and status might influence adiposity in young people. However, the Brazilian elderly have a high prevalence of inadequate intake of this vitamin. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the usual intake of vitamin A and the body composition of the elderly in the community. Methods. - This is a cross-sectional study carried out with men and women aged equal or over 60 years who actively participate in the community. Anthropometric assessments were performed (weight, height, waist and calf circumference), body composition assessment by bioelectrical impedance, and food intake assessment using a 24-hour recall. Results. - About 88.7% of the sample were above the adequate percentage of body fat. No correlation was found between the intake of vitamin A (mu g/R.A.E) and a body composition of the elderly. Inadequate consumption of vitamins A (> 90%), in addition to vitamin B6 and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and selenium (> 80%), was also observed. Conclusion. - A high inadequacy of dietary intake of vitamin A was found in the elderly, which might be associated with excessive body fat indices in the studied sample. (c) 2024 Socie<acute accent>te<acute accent> francophone nutrition clinique et me<acute accent>tabolisme (SFNCM). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.