Nutritional status of non institutionalized elderly people in north Italy.

The nutritional status of some elderly people - 313 non institutionalized and 37 assisted by public organization - was investigated. As regards weight, muscle and fat area, BMI and fat %, lower values were found for assisted people. The mean daily nutrient intakes in assisted people are below the recommended values for all nutrients, except fats; free living people have higher intakes of protein and fat, and lower intakes of thiamin and retinol equivalents. About 10% and 15% of non institutionalized people showed respectively an inadequate thiamin and riboflavin nutritional status (determined by alpha ETK and TPP levels and by alpha EGR and FAD levels); a worse situation was found for assisted people. Vitamin B6 levels appear adequate for all the population tested.