Vitamin C status in elderly women: a comparison between women living in a nursing home and women living independently

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol. 93; no. 2; p. 167
• Main Authors: Lowik, M.R.H. (TNO Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, Zeist, The Netherlands), Hulshof, K.F.A.M, Schneijder, P, Schrijver, J, Colen, A.A.M, Houten, P. van
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1993
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUBSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; ACIDE ASCORBIQUE; ACIDO ASCORBICO; Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Ascorbic Acid - blood; Diet; ENCUESTAS NUTRICIONALES; Energy Intake; ENQUETE NUTRITIONNELLE; ESTADO NUTRICIONAL; ETAT NUTRITIONNEL; Female; FEMME; Food Handling; Food Services; Homes for the Aged; Humans; INGESTION DE ALIMENTOS; MUJERES; Nursing Homes; NUTRICION HUMANA; NUTRITION HUMAINE; Nutritional Status; PERSONNE AGEE; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE; Residence Characteristics; Smoking; TERCERA EDAD
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 1878-3570
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-8223(93)90833-7

The vitamin C status in blood fractions in 135 elderly women aged 65 years and older was studied within the framework of the Dutch Nutrition Surveillance System. Mean (+/- standard deviation) vitamin C intake (mg/day) was lower among women living in a nursing home (54 +/- 27 mg/ day) than among women living in service flats (97 +/- 55 mg/ day) and women living independently (132 +/- 44 mg/day). (Service flats are apartments in which the rent includes housekeeping and, when ordered, meal service.) Marginal vitamin C values (23 micromoles/L) in blood fractions and even levels as low as those found in clinical scurvy (11 micromoles/L) were frequently observed. In the nursing home, 35% of the women had plasma vitamin C values below 11 micromoles/L, and 23% had values between 11 and 23 micromoles/L. Blood levels were not significantly affected by age, smoking status, or use of particular drugs but were strongly (r