Campillo JE, Pérez G, Rodríguez A, Torres MD.
Department of Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Extremadura. Badajoz. Spain.

Address: M.D. Torres Asensio
Department of Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. Avda de Elvas s/n 06071 Badajoz. Spain. Phone 34 924 289437; e-mail: mdtorres@unex.es

To evaluate the vitamin and mineral consumption of a group of elderly people of the Comunidad of Extremadura. 122 subjects 62.5±5.3 years (64 women, 57 men) responded to a survey on their food intake the day before. The vitamin and mineral intake was calculated using a computer program from the University of Granada.
We found no statistically significant differences by gender in the intake of the following vitamins: niacin (24.5±10.1 vs 25.6±9.7 mg/day), B1 (1.6±0.6 vs 1.7±0.6 mg/day), B6 (1.7±0.6 vs 1.8±0.5 mg/day), C (129.5±82.1 vs 158.1±97.6 mg/day), D (4.4±7.5 vs 3.8±6.5 g/day), E (7.8±4.1 vs 8.1±3.8v mg/day), and folic acid (326.6±164.0 vs 383.1±215.3 g/day). We did find statistically significant differences in the intake of the vitamins: A (582.2±299.6 vs 771.8±602.2 g/day, p<0.05), B12 (23.4±20.3 vs 13.1±12.1 g/day, p<0.001) and B2 (1.6±0.4 vs 1.8±0.5 mg/day, p<0.05). With respect to mineral intake, we found no statistically significant differences by gender in the intake of the following minerals: calcium (1046.8±276.9 vs 1088.9±307.7 mg/day), iron (20.2±6.6 vs 18.5±8.6 mg/day), iodine (73.6±37.9 vs 73.8±41.1 g/day), potassium (2804.6±1088 vs 2837.5±1035.8 mg/day), magnesium (405.4±155.3 vs 366.5±141.3 mg/day), phosphorus (1407.4±408.6 vs 1317.2±447.2 mg/day) and zinc (8.9±3.3 vs 8.0±2.7 mg/day). We found a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) for sodium (2124.9±1049.5 mg/day in men and 1728.4±992.5 mg/day in women).
Our results showed an intake less than the RDA of vit.A, while the vit.B12 intake was greater than the RDA. The intake of the other parameters fitted the recommended values.
Keywords: vitamins, minerals, nutrition, elderly, Spain