Age and Ageing (1975), 4, 49
NUTRITION OF THE ELDERLY AT HOME I I I . INTAKES OF MINERALS CATRIONA C. MACLEOD, T. G. JUDGE AND F. I. CAIRD
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Glasgmv
Intakes of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium are reported for 77 men and 187 women aged 65 and over and living at home in N. Glasgow. Calcium intakes were below the national average. The importance of milk as a source of calcium and the relevance of calcium intake to bone disease in old age are discussed. Iron intakes were probably adequate, but those of potassium and magnesium may well be below optimum levels.
The possibility has been raised not infrequently that in old age dietary inadequacy may contribute to deficiencies of various minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and perhaps magnesium. Thus Nordin (1960) has suggested that dietary calcium deficiency may have a bearing on bone rarefaction in the elderly. Hallberg & Hogdahl (1971) have shown that iron intake falls with age to levels that might well often be inadequate to maintain iron balance. Although there is no doubt that diuretic therapy is the commonest cause of potassium depletion in old age, there is also good evidence for the existence of potassium depletion of dietary origin (Judge, 1968; Judge & Macleod, 1968; Judge, Caird, Leask & Macleod, 1974). Little is known about magnesium intake in the elderly. The present study summarizes the intakes of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium of the group of elderly people living at home in N. Glasgow previously described (Macleod, Judge & Caird, 1974a, b). Certain aspects of the problems presented have been discussed elsewhere (MacLennan, Caird & Macleod, 1972; MacLennan, Andrews, Macleod & Caird, 1973; Judge et al, 1974).
Methods The subjects studied and the methods of dietary assessment used have been described (Macleod et al, 1974a, b). The food tables of Disselduff, Marr & Robertson (1968) were used to calculate the intakes of calcium and iron, and those of Widdowson & McCance (1967) to derive the potassium and magnesium contents of each item in the main food tables. Lean-body mass was calculated from the formulae of Hume (1966).
RESULTS
Tables I—III show the mean intakes of minerals, and Table IV shows their principal dietary sources.
Downloaded from http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Sydney on June 6, 2016
Summary
M
Sex
Age No. Calcium Mean ±S.E>. mg Number • r n g Number
NUTRITION OF THE ELDERLY AT HOME I I I . INTAKES OF MINERALS CATRIONA C. MACLEOD, T. G. JUDGE AND F. I. CAIRD
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Glasgmv
Intakes of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium are reported for 77 men and 187 women aged 65 and over and living at home in N. Glasgow. Calcium intakes were below the national average. The importance of milk as a source of calcium and the relevance of calcium intake to bone disease in old age are discussed. Iron intakes were probably adequate, but those of potassium and magnesium may well be below optimum levels.
The possibility has been raised not infrequently that in old age dietary inadequacy may contribute to deficiencies of various minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and perhaps magnesium. Thus Nordin (1960) has suggested that dietary calcium deficiency may have a bearing on bone rarefaction in the elderly. Hallberg & Hogdahl (1971) have shown that iron intake falls with age to levels that might well often be inadequate to maintain iron balance. Although there is no doubt that diuretic therapy is the commonest cause of potassium depletion in old age, there is also good evidence for the existence of potassium depletion of dietary origin (Judge, 1968; Judge & Macleod, 1968; Judge, Caird, Leask & Macleod, 1974). Little is known about magnesium intake in the elderly. The present study summarizes the intakes of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium of the group of elderly people living at home in N. Glasgow previously described (Macleod, Judge & Caird, 1974a, b). Certain aspects of the problems presented have been discussed elsewhere (MacLennan, Caird & Macleod, 1972; MacLennan, Andrews, Macleod & Caird, 1973; Judge et al, 1974).
Methods The subjects studied and the methods of dietary assessment used have been described (Macleod et al, 1974a, b). The food tables of Disselduff, Marr & Robertson (1968) were used to calculate the intakes of calcium and iron, and those of Widdowson & McCance (1967) to derive the potassium and magnesium contents of each item in the main food tables. Lean-body mass was calculated from the formulae of Hume (1966).
RESULTS
Tables I—III show the mean intakes of minerals, and Table IV shows their principal dietary sources.
Downloaded from http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Sydney on June 6, 2016
Summary
M
Sex
Age No. Calcium Mean ±S.E>. mg Number • r n g Number
