N. Zambrano et al., FOOD-INTAKE AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS - OVERALL NUTRITION AND METABOLIC STATUS IN A GROUP OF FREE-LIVING ELDERLY IN VENEZUELA, Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion, 46(3), 1996, pp. 196-202
To evaluate the quality of life, and to establish local reference stan
dards, the nutritional and metabolic status were assessed in two-hundr
ed-eleven noninstitutionalized adults divided in two groups: the exper
imental (greater than or equal to 60 years old), and the control (<60
years old). The anthropometric nutritional status was assessed with th
e Quetelet Index with no significant differences between the age group
s. The 24-hour recall method in the dietetic evaluation showed a high
lipid and protein diet, which is characteristic of the region, The die
t is deficient in energy, carbohydrates, fiber, copper, and zinc. Bioc
hemical determinations of zinc, copper, total protein, albumin, alkali
ne phosphatase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-
cholesterol, glucose, and insulin, were performed on 12-hours fasting
subjects without significant (p<0,05) age-based differences, except al
bumin levels, which reflects overall protein status. On the other hand
, albumin, trygliceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-chole
sterol, and copper levels showed sex-based and age-sex-based significa
nt differences (p<0,05). Similar studies should be made on institution
alized or free-living individuals, from different socioeconomic levels
and a nutritional status assessed by anthropometric measures, body co
mposition, and food intake.