The nutritional status of forty-five women aged 71 to 89 years, who met defined health criteria, was assessed by an analysis of three-day diet records and anthropometric measurements. Subjects were grouped, according to the average caloric intake at home <75%> of daily intake to reflect the dependency of the subjects. Subjects were also divided into seven groups according to the site from which they were recruited.For the total population, there was no correlation between calorie intake per day and age, and there were negative correlations between age and all of the measures of body composition. In addition, a higher intake of calories per kg was negatively correlated with weight, suggesting that the heavier subjects had proportionately lower levels of caloric intake per kg of body weight.There were no significant differences in the risk for protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) among the healthy elderly women who were subjects of this study as measured by an analysis of their dietary intake and anthropometric status, and based upon their dependency on others for <_75%> of their average daily caloric intake. It is concluded that for this population, source of food at home or away, as an indication of dependency, did not significantly affect nutritional status.When grouped according to the site from which they were reecruited, subjects in two of the groups were found to have the potential for malnutrition. Subjects in one of the groups had poor intakes of vitamins and minerals, but adequate body fat and somatic protein stores, and were not at risk for PCM. However, subjects in the other group appeared to have good diets and adequate fat mass, but very low muscle protein stores, and were at significant risk for PCM.The role of socioeconomic factors were minimal in this population as the two groups found to be at greatest risk were those observed to be near opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Therefore, it is concluded that upper income elderly are as much at risk for PCM as those in lower income groups, and that women in upper socioeconomic groups must be assessed for risk for PCM.It is apparent that the nutritional needs of most of the healthy elderly women in the study were being met. For those groups found to be potentially at risk, there was a possibility that they may not have been as healthy as was indicated, suggesting that risk for PCM is more a function of poor health which results in associated dependency. / Department of Home Economics
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/184062 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | Fitzgerald, Lezli Ann |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of Home Economics., Roepke, Judith B. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | x, 93 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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