Current information suggests that dietary intake of nutrients declines
with age and that undernutrition in elderly long-stay hospital patien
t, may be under-recognized. We undertook to describe the daily dietary
intakes of a group of elderly long-stay hospital patients (n = 92) (g
roup A), using 7-day weighed dietary records. The aim of the study was
to determine the adequacy of the diet and investigate whether any dif
ferences existed in the intakes of the hospital patients. An assessmen
t of nutritional status was carried out by anthropometry, haematology
and biochemistry and was validated by comparison with two further grou
ps: fit young subjects (n = 41) (group B) and fit community elderly su
bjects (n = 92) (group C). Men in group B had the highest mean values
for mid-arm circumference, arm-muscle circumference, corrected arm-mus
cle area and arm-fat area while women in group A had the lowest mean v
alues for all measured anthropometric indices. There were significant
correlations between daily energy intake and anthropometry for men in
groups B and C. In group A 68% had intakes < 2/3 recommended daily all
owance for energy, 100% for vitamin D, E, B6, folic acid; 98% for magn
esium and zinc; and 90% for retinol. Serum calcium and serum alkaline
phosphatase were correlated with vitamin D intake in men in group A. T
here was no biochemical or haematological evidence of undernutrition i
n the three groups. Elderly long-stay hospital patients were grossly u
ndernourished and their dietary intake did not satisfy basal metabolic
demands, based on recommended daily allowances.