Sources of energy and nutrients in diets of the elderly living in Toronto.

The contribution of the various food groups to the nutrient intakes of a group of independently-living elderly individuals in Toronto is described. The pattern of meal and food intakes generally provided enough of the nutrients, excepting calcium, to meet the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Canadians. Mean energy intake was low. It is suggested that if relatively small amounts of the foods ingested at the different meals are raised, it will likely provide enough energy and all the nutrients to satisfy the recommended levels of intake.

Nutrient intakes of a group of independently-living elderly individuals in Toronto.

A cross-sectional survey of an age-stratified random sample of 619 independently-living adults (307 males, 312 females) aged 60 years and over, living in Toronto was conducted. Detailed dietary data was collected from three sets of 3-day food records. The mean energy and nutrient intakes appeared to be adequate. However the energy intake of many participants was low, while their fat intake was high. The nutrients of concern for inadequate intakes were calcium, vitamin D and vitamin A. Intakes of zinc, vitamin C and protein were low for a smaller group. Nutrition education is recommended to provide guidance for choosing healthy diets.

Chromium, selenium, and other trace element intakes of a selected sample of Canadian premenopausal women.

Daily Cr, Se, Ag, Cs, Rb, Sb, and Sc intakes of 84 Canadian women aged 30.3±6.1 yr (mean±SD) living in a University community and consuming self-selected diets were determined by analyses of 1-d food composites collected by the subjects. Aliquots of the homogenized food composites were freeze-dried and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation procedures following irradiation for 72h. In all cases, trace element concentrations in the food composites were non-Gaussian. Median daily intakes were: Cr, 47 µg; Se, 74 µg; Ag, 7.1 µg; Cs, 4.4 µg; Rb, 1.5 mg; Sb 2.0 µg; and Sc, 0.38 µg. Sixty percent and 24% of the subjects received daily Cr and Se intakes, respectively, below the US Food and Nutrition Board safe and adequate range. High Cr density diets were associated with a significantly higher consumption of cheese and dry legumes and nuts (p<0.05). In the high Se density diets, intakes of grain products and breakfast cereals were significantly higher (p<0.05), and intakes of potatoes, table fats, total fat, saturated fat, and oleic acid were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the low Se density diets. The low daily Cr intakes evident in this study may be cause for concern in view of the increasing evidence that women may be at greater risk for deficiency of Cr than men because of Cr depletion during pregnancy.

Regional differences in hair zinc concentrations: a possible effect of water hardness.

Hair Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations were determined by neutron activation procedures in two groups of healthy, Caucasian children aged 4.5 to 5.5 yr from Halifax, Nova Scotia and Guelph, Ontario and consuming soft water (hardness - 33 ppm) and very hard tap water (hardness = 330 ppm), respectively. Median hair Zn level for the Halifax children (26 males and 26 females) was 140 microgram/g, significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than the Guelph children (median = 82 microgram/g; 25 males and 26 females). No significant differences existed between the two groups for median hair Cu and Mn levels (Halifax hair Cu 12.1 microgram/g. Guelph hair Cu 11.0 microgram/g. Halifax hair Mn 0.17 microgram/g. Guelph hair Mn 0.18 microgram/g). The Halifax children were significantly heavier (p less than 0.001) and slightly taller (p = 0.09) than their Guelph counterparts, although mean daily intakes of energy, protein, Zn, Cu, Mn, and dietary fiber, calculated from 3-day food records were not significantly different in the two groups. The large differences in the hair zinc levels may be due to the high concentration of calcium in the Guelph hard water, which may decrease the absorption of zinc.

Trace element intakes of women.

1. Energy, protein, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and dietary fibre intakes of 100 pre-menopausal women (mean age 30.0 +/- 6.1 years) from a university community, and consuming self-selected diets, were calculated using 3 d dietary records and food composition values. Subjects also collected a 24 h food composite during the 3 d record period for analysis of Zn, Cu and Mn by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Daily analysed intakes were compared with those calculated from the corresponding record day. 2. Mean daily calculated intakes of energy, protein, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se and dietary fibre were 7.54 +/- 1.61 MJ, 74 +/- 18 g protein, 10.1 +/- 3.3 mg Zn, 1.9 +/- 0.6 mg Cu, 3.1 +/- 1.5 mg Mn, 131 +/- 53 micrograms Se, 19.4 +/- 6.6 g dietary fibre. 3. Major food sources for each of the trace elements were (%): Zn meat + substitutes 43, dairy products 23.7; Cu breads and cereals 22, vegetables 21; Mn breads and cereals 47, fruits 12, Se meat + substitutes 38, breads and cereals 30. 4. Highly significant correlations (P = 0.001) were noted for analysed intakes of Zn, Cu and Mn and those calculated from the corresponding record day. Mean calculated intakes were higher (%): Zn 138, Cu 142, Mn 121, than corresponding mean analysed intakes (P = 0.01). However, the mean nutrient densities (mg/MJ) were comparable: Zn analysed 1.2, calculated 1.4; Cu analysed 0.2, calculated 0.2; Mn analysed 0.4, calculated 0.4. 5. All subjects met the Canadian Dietary Standard (CDS) recommended level for Cu but 48% received less than the CDS for Zn, 6% obtaining less than two-thirds of this recommended level. Daily Mn and Se intakes were similar to recent values for North American diets.

Calcium, phosphorus, and osteoporosis.

Gross epidemiological data indicate there are no significant differences in rates of aging osteopenia among countries with substantially different amounts of Ca in their national food supplies. This-observation, plus the fact that Ca administration fails to reverse osteoporotic bone loss, has led some investigators to conclude that Ca nutrition is an insignificant factor in the etiology of osteoporosis. However, it has become apparent that a Ca intake that may be adequate for adults consuming a low protein, low P, neural, or alkaline cereal-based diet is not necessarily adequate for subjects consuming a high protein, high P, acidic mixed Western diet. Ca administration inhibits postmenopausal osteopenia and there is epidemiological evidence that a liberal Ca intake reduces bone loss in middle adulthood. Ca intakes in the United States and Canada appear generally satisfactory among children and young adults, but low intakes by many individuals of middle age is a cause for concern, especially among women. Although the Ca:P ratio for the average diet consumed in these countries (about 1:1.6) appears to be satisfactory, a low intake of dairy foods, coupled with a high intake of other foods rich in natural and added phosphorus, may raise the ratio above 1:2, a value beyond which animal studies indicate that there is a risk of increased bone loss.