FATTY-ACID NUTRITURE IN HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY WOMEN

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the fatty acid (FA) di etary intakes and the FA composition of plasma total lipids in a selec ted group of hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: Twenty-three wome n aged 76 to 99 years were recruited. FA were analyzed in 5-day duplic ate portions and in plasma by gas liquid chromatography. Results: The hospitalized elderly women ingested an average of 5.22 megajoules (MJ) and 45.9 g of lipids per day. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) repr esented 11.0% and saturated fatty acids (SFA) 53.6% of the lipid intak e. Minimal recommendations for linoleic acid intake were reached in av erage, but 32% of the patients ingested less than 3 g of linoleic acid /d. Eighty-six percent received less than 0.5% of energy from alpha-li nolenic acid and 64% had low intakes in very long-chain n-3 FA. In par allel, these patients presented several biochemical signs of essential fatty acids (EFA) insufficiency (decrease in linoleic acid, increase in monounsaturatcd fatty acids (MUFA), in n-7 FA and in indexes of del ta-6 and delta-9 desaturase activities). Conclusions: Hospitalized eld erly patients have low PUFA intakes and show biochemical indices of EF A insufficiency. These patients might benefit from a nutritional suppl ementation providing both EFA and antioxidant micronutrients to limit the risk of skin troubles, immune system impairment and vascular disea se often observed in institutionalized elderly subjects.