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No description available.

No description available.

The influence of selected demographic variables on the kilocalorie and nutrient intake of Americans over fifty-nine years of age assessed in HANES I was analyzed. A retrospective study design was used. Data on sex, race, poverty level (using PIR as the standard), number of people in the household, education, number and type of household resources, and nutrient and kilocalorie intakes were taken from the HANES I data tapes. Chi square analysis were used to determine if relationships existed between the kilocalorie and nutrient intake and the variables selected. The results indicate that race, sex, and poverty level were the most predictive of nutrient intake. Males, white individuals, and those above poverty generally had a greater percentage of individuals meeting at least sixty-seven percent of the HANES I standards for kilocalories and the assessed nutrients. The other demographic variables influenced intakes of some of the nutrients, but no distinct patterns emerged. Large percentages of these individuals were found to be below sixty-seven percent of the HANES I standards as well as above one hundred percent of the HANES I standards. / Master of Science

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No description available.

We assessed the nutritional status and physical function of 121 women (79.4 +/- 6.6 y, 26.8 +/- 5.6 kg/m2) and 61 men (78.6 +/- 8.3 y, 26.6 +/- 4.7 kg/m2) participating in the Geriatric Day Hospital. According to a composite index of malnutrition, 19% of them were found malnourished whereas the Mini-Nutritional Assessment, a validated nutritional screening tool, found that 56% of the elderly were malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. Malnourished persons, as determined by the composite index, had a lower lean body mass (LBM) by bioelectrical impedance analysis compared with the well-nourished group (40.5 +/- 9.7 vs. 42.0 +/- 8.7 kg, p = 0.0001). LBM correlated significantly with handgrip strength (r = 0.34, p = 0.0001) but not with gait speed (r = 0.04, p = 0.27). There were no significant differences between nutritional states for any of the two tests of physical function. The score of the MNA, correlated with gait speed (r = 0.24, p = 0.02) but the performance at the physical tests was not different according to the nutritional status defined by this tool. We conclude that malnutrition is relatively prevalent among frail persons participating in the Geriatric Day Hospital and that malnutrition is one among many other factors that contribute to their low level of physical performance. As such, a nutritional intervention may be of benefit in improving the physical function of frail elderly persons who are malnourished.

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No description available.

No description available.