Vitamin intake and status in a group of subjects from the Gubbio area Italy.

beta-Carotene, retinol, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin intake and blood nutritional status beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol) were investigated in a group of 79 subjects (35 males and 44 females) of 30 years and over, living in three rural hamlets in the Gubbio area (Central Italy) to see if there were any differences in nutrient intake using different methods of dietary assessment and if there was a relationship between vitamin intake and status. Vitamin intakes were assessed by three different methods: dietary history, two-day weighed record and two-day duplicate-portion chemical analysis. Vitamin content of duplicate diets was assessed by semiautomated HPLC methods. Plasma vitamin status was assessed by semi-automated isocratic straight-phase HPLC methods. The three methods of dietary assessment were compared using the Student's paired t-test and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Between the two days weighed record and diet history, significant differences were observed for beta-carotene and thiamin. Between the two-day weighed record and chemical analysis, significantly differences were found for beta-carotene, riboflavin and thiamin. Between diet history and chemical analysis, significant differences were obtained for beta-carotene, riboflavin and thiamin. The t-test analysis showed different results according to sex and age. Plasma vitamin status using the current cut-off criteria showed some deficiencies for beta-carotene. As on other occasions no correlation was observed between data from diet history, weighed record and chemical analysis of duplicate portions and the corresponding blood vitamin levels for the whole group of subjects.

Vitamin and mineral nutritional status and other biochemical data assessed in groups of men from Crevalcore and Montegiorgio (Italy).

The vitamin and mineral nutritional status of 34 elderly (mean age 77.6 +/- 4.7 years) and 39 younger subjects (mean age 41.7 +/- 7.5 years) from Crevalcore and Montegiorgio (the two rural areas of The Seven Countries Study) was studied. Comparisons have been made between centres, between age groups, and with data obtained from similar surveys performed in 1960 and 1970. Levels of thiamin and riboflavin nutritional status were higher in 1991 than in 1970. Plasma retinol values were above levels of deficiency, but vitamin E and beta-carotene tended to be low. The zinc status of the populations, as assessed by leucocyte zinc concentrations, was generally low. A decline in copper intake during the past ten years may be responsible for the low leucocyte copper concentration which was more apparent in the younger subjects. Serum cholesterol was above, and HDL cholesterol below, the European Atherosclerosis Society recommendations.

Nutritional status of a group of self-sufficient institutionalized elderly people in Perugia (Italy).

The nutritional status of forty-six self sufficient institutionalized elderly people of Perugia was assessed. The diet of this group is slightly better than that of other groups of elderly people previously examined. As observed in other studies, the diet of the elderly from this region of Italy does not seem to be of the Mediterranean type. The location of subcutaneous fat in elderly men is prevalent in the upper trunk and in women in the arms. The clinical signs of nutritional status among this group of self-sufficient institutionalized elderly people are in general not specific and mostly associated with old age. The pathological conditions observed and the administration of drugs do not appear to substantially influence the nutritional status of this group.

Nutritional status of a group of institutionalized elderly people in Perugia (Italy).

In this group of institutionalized elderly people the anthropometry and body composition situation is much better than that observed in a noninstitutionalized group examined longitudinally on a previous occasion. On the other hand, as expected, indices of physical activity are lower. The diet is in general satisfactory, considering the very low physical activity of those individuals. Only a few foods and nutrients show marginal low intakes (fish, eggs and legumes; lipids, iron, thiamin and vitamin A).