Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine nutritional status of iron in 27 rural elderly subjects. The daily intake, urinary excretion and serum level of iron were determined by 24-hr food collection method, and 24-hr urine and serum collection for 3 days. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The mean age, height, weight, and blood pressure were 67.7 years, 163.2cm, 55.9kg, and 121.1/80. 0mmHg in men and 69.9 years, 146.5cm, 47.6kg, and 108.9/71.1mmHg in women, respectively 2. The daily intake of energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B$_1$, vitamin B$_2$, niacin, vitamin C, and iron were lower than Korean recommended dietary allowances. 3. The daily iron intake was 7.82mg. The proportion of heme iron and nonheme iron to the total iron intake were 8.05% and 91.94%, respectively Major iron sources of the rural elderly were cooked rice, Ko Chu Jang, beef blood, anchovy, soybean paste, and leafy radish. 4. The hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity were 14.3g/㎗, 42.9%, 79.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, and 268.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗ in men and 12.9g/㎗, 38.8%,92.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, and 277.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗ in women, respectively. 5. There was a significant positive correlation between dietary intake and urinary excretion of iron.

Keywords

• Nutrition status;
• Iron;
• Rural elderly