ZINC STATUS OF AN ELDERLY INSTITUTIONALIZ ED POPULATION

Elderly people is at high nutritional risk for zinc, specially margina l deficit, which could contribute to complications of chronic diseases and undernutrition. The aim of study was to know the zinc status of 8 3 elderly people (older than 60), from both sexes, living in geriatric home. Zinc serum levels, alkaline phosphatase serum levels; albumin s erum levels, energy, proteins and zinc dietary intake and gustative se nsitivity were determined. Results expressed as mean +/- DS are the fo llowing: serum zinc: 90,89+/-19,0 mu g/dl, alkaline phosphatase: 125,4 1 +/- 24.2 IU/L, albumin serum: 3,9+/-0,76 g/dl energy intake: 1643+/- 309,9 Kcal/day, protein intake: 59,96+/-13,2 g/day, zinc intake 7,9+/- 3,0 mg/day, only energy and zinc intake were deficient. 18,1% had zinc values under 70 mu g/dl. There was 54% of positivie responses to the taste acuity tests. This results qualify this group as at risk, specia lly for zinc nutritional.