Association of participation in a nutritional program for the elderly with nutritional status.

The nutritional status of 547 participants of the Title VII Nutrition Program for the Elderly was assessed by anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary means. The nutriture for vitamins A and C was positively associated with frequency of participation in the program using biochemical and dietary methods of assessment. A significant smaller percentage of persons who participated in the program on a regular basis had inadequate intakes of riboflavin and thiamin. Fewer persons had anemia and low serum iron concentrations than was reported in an earlier baseline study. However, in this group of persons frequency of participation was not associated with anemia or serum iron-concentrations. Participation in the program was not significantly related to the dietary intake of energy, saturated fat, and cholesterol or to the incidence of obesity when assessed using triceps skinfold thickness, ponderal index, body mass index, and percentage of desirable weight. It can be concluded that the Title VII Nutrition Program for the Elderly is associated with improvement in the nutritional status of the participants.