Korean J Nutr.  2008 Jan;41(1):65-76.

Nutritional Status and Health Risks of Low Income Elderly Women in Gwangju Area

• Yang EJ
• Bang HM

Abstract

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (> or = 65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y < or =) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score < or = 3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score > 3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 kg/m2 and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.

Keyword

Korean elderly; nutritional status; nutrition screening initiative; body fat; inflammatory response

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Adipose Tissue
Aged
Biochemistry
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Checklist
Cholesterol
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care
Depression
Fasting
Female
Ferritins
Folic Acid
Glucose
Hematocrit
Hemoglobins
Hip
Humans
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-6
Korea
Life Style
Linear Models
Malnutrition
Mass Screening
Meals
Niacin
Nutritional Status
Riboflavin
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Tooth
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Ferritins
Folic Acid
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-6
Niacin
Riboflavin
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha