ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN-A, VITAMIN-E, VITAM IN-C AND VITAMIN-B2, CAROTENOID AND ZINC SERUM LEVELS IN ELDERLY HOSPITAL PATIENTS

Serum levels of carotenoids, zinc and vitamins A, E, C and B2 were mea sured in al (n = 202) the elderly patients hospitalized in different w ards of the hospital studied from February 1986 to October 1988. The s tudy was conducted on 130 men and 72 women with a mean age of 67.8 yea rs (range: 60 to 88 years). The percentage of nutritional deficiency w as 59.5% for zinc, 56.5% for vitamin C, 34.5% for vitamin B2, 25.9% fo r vitamin E, 13.2% for vitamin A, and 6.8% for carotenoids. Elderly pa tients with leucoses, megaesophagus, chronic obstructive pulmonary dis ease, and congestive heart failure represent a group with a high preva lence of deficiency both of zinc and of the vitamins under study. Thes e results show the importance of detecting deficiencies of these micro nutrients and provide a basis for a more rational approach to the trea tment of elderly patients.