Y. DROR*, F. STERN*, Y.N. BERNER**, N.A. KAUFMANN***, E. BERRY***, Y. MAARAVI****, H. ALTMAN*****, A.COHEN******, A. LEVENTHAL*****, D. NITZAN KALUSKI*****

*Institute of Biochemistry, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University, Rehovot. **Geriatrics, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba. ***Department of Metabolism and Human Nutrition, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University. ****Department of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus. *****Public Health Services, Ministry of Health. ******Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health. Israel. Correspondence: Yosef Dror, PhD, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, POBox 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Telephone: 972-8-9489280. Fax: 972-8-9476189. E-mail: dror@agri.huji.ac.il

A committee nominated by the Israel Ministry of Health examined the relevant literature and the local recommendations as well as the recommendations from other countries and suggested a daily micronutrient supplementation for institutionalized elderly living in institutions supervised by the Ministry of Health. The micronutrient preparatory, tailored for this population, is designed to contain about half the RDA for most of the vitamins and some microelements. Biotin and vitamins C, D and B12 as well as zinc, copper, chromium and molybdenum are suggested at a level higher than half the RDA, whereas fluorine, at a lower level. Major elements (calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) are excluded and should be supplied separately. Vitamin K and iron are also excluded. Fat-soluble vitamins should be microencapsulated. Micronutrient supplementation for institutionalized elderly is part of the Ministry of Health's balanced nutrition policy. The committee's recommendations are also applicable to the free-living elderly population.

Keywords: Micronutrient, vitamin, microelement, institutionalized elderly, supplementation, RDA, recommendation.