Abstract

This study was performed to assess the nutritional status of nursing home residents and to assess the effect of nutrition intervention. The subjects were 123 people aged over 60 years from 5 different nursing homes. The nutrition intervention study was carried out by supplementing their diet with multivitamin-minerals for 2 months. The mean intakes of most nutrients did not meet the RDA, Though the nutrient content of the menus provided by the facilities were satisfactory. Nutrients of which intakes fell below 75% of the RDA were protein, Ca, Fe, vitamin A vitamin B$_1$, and vitamin B$_2$. The BMIs of male and female subjects were 22.0kg/$m^2$ and 24.6kg/$m^2$ and the WHRs were 0.92 and 0.90, respectively. The percentage of subjects with hypertention (BP$\geq$140/90mmHg) and with anemia(Hb$\leq$13mg/100$m\ell$ in men, Hb$\leq$12mg/100$m\ell$ in women) were 34.6% and 41.9%, respectively. The serum cncentrations of albumin, total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and total lipid fell within normal ranges. However, 27.5% of the subjects showed a high serum cholesterol level of over 250mg/100$m\ell$. The concentration of C3 was 81.2mg/100$m\ell$, IgG, 1343mg/100$m\ell$, and IL-2, 0.766mg/$m\ell$. after 2 months of vitamin-mineral supplementation, the levels of blood glucose and total cholesterol were significantly decreased and triglyceride was significantly increased. The vitamin-mineral supplementation had no effect on the mean levels of vitamin A and E, IgG, IL2, and C3. However, the intervention resulted int he improvement of serum vitamin A and E levels when the subject\`s serum levels were low before the supplementation.

Keywords

• Intervention;
• Supplementation;
• Nursing-home residents