NUTRITION STATUS OF THE ELDERLY IN ANOGIA, CRETE, GREECE

General health and nutritional status of 167 free-living elderly Greek (aged 65-91 years) were assessed. The most prevalent diseases/symptom s encountered were related to respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculosk eletal and vascular systems (hypertension). Most subjects were sociall y active. Body mass index was <20 and >25 Kg/m2 in 7 and 57% of the su bjects, respectively. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in women than in men, and as a group. 18 and 42%, respectively, had d iastolic blood pressures >90 and systolic blood pressures >160 mmHg. A nemia and hypoalbuminemia were detected in <5% of the population. Tota l fat intake was 40-45% of total energy intake and most of it came fro m monounsaturated fat. Hypercholesterolemia (>6 mmol/L) was present in 32% of subjects. The percentages of men who smoked (66%) or drank (68 %) were significantly higher than those of women (2 and 1%, respective ly). Dietary intake data were compared with US recommended dietary all owances (RDA) for elderly. Daily energy and protein intakes were lower than the US RDA levels; calcium intake was >50% of the US RDA, while magnesium and vitamin B6 levels were <50% of the US RDA. Vitamin C int ake was much higher than that of the US RDA. Mean thiamin, vitamin A, riboflavin and iron intakes were below the US RDA, while fiber intake was <50% of the corresponding US estimate. Phosphorus was higher than the US RDA in men, while lower for women. Sodium intakes exceeded thos e recommended, while potassium levels were higher than those recommend ed in males, and lower in females. Compared to males. females had part icularly low phosphorus, potassium. fiber, iron, vitamin A and ribofla vin intake levels, or less favorable micronutrient-intake profiles. Al so, anthropometric indices indicated a higher incidence of obesity in women. Finally, females had a significantly higher mean total serum ch olesterol level. The nutritional problems observed in our sample as a whole, and in females in particular, involve pronounced departures fro m the US RDA for several micronutrients.