Nutrient intake of healthy elderly subjects based on results of the SENECAstudy "Nutrition and the elderly in Europe"

The SENECA Study "Nutrition and the elderly in Europe" investigates men and women born 1913-1918 in 20 small traditional towns in Europe, At the age o f 74-79 years subjective health was satisfactory or good in 95 % of 399 men and 93 % of 414 women in 6 study towns. In these subjects suboptimal nutri tional blood values were virtually inexistent. Food intake was low in energ y and rich in protein and fat. Lowest European recommended dietary allowanc es were not reached by all subjects. The even higher values recommended as potentially protective factors were not met by a substantial part of subjec ts with energy intakes below 6.3 MJ/d. Regularity of food intake was high a nd had increased over 4 years, Living alone did not adversely affect food i ntake while low economic situation did.