VITAMIN-B-6 MALNUTRITION AMONG ELDERLY EUROPEANS - THE SENECA STUDY

Inadequate vitamin B-6 status is common among elderly people. It is st ill unclear to what extent factors other than reduced vitamin B-6 inta ke are responsible for this. We studied the vitamin B-6 intake and sta tus [measured as plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)] in 546 elderly E uropeans, aged 74-76 years, with no known vitamin B-6 supplement use. In addition, we examined interrelations and associations with other di etary and lifestyle factors, including indicators of physical health. Overall, 27% of the males and 42% of the females had dietary vitamin B -6 intakes below the mean minimum requirements (.015 mg/g protein and/ or < 1.0 mg/day), and 22% of both males and females had low plasma PLP levels (< 20 nmol/L). Plasma PLP was positively associated with vitam in B-6 intake, alcohol intake, and serum albumin, and was weakly negat ively associated with body mass index. Although the serum albumin leve ls fed within the normal range, these findings suggest that this trans port protein is related with vitamin B-6 status of elderly people, eit her directly eras a result of underlying health problems. It is conclu ded that, based on the references for younger adults, the vitamin B-6 status of elderly people is marginal. Trials are needed to quantify fu nctional and health consequences of improving the vitamin B-6 status o f elderly people.