Selected nutrient intakes and blood serum mineral concentrations of elderly humans fed regular and sweet acidophilus milks.

Calorie, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus and manganese intakes were retrospectively calculated from the self-recorded intakes of 12 elderly humans, who were fed regular and sweet acidophilus milks in addition to their normal free choice diets. Blood serum of the subjects was analyzed for total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus and manganese at the beginning of the study, at cross-overtime of milk treatments and at the end of the study. Total serum calcium, serum ionized calcium and phosphorus levels of the subjects were significantly higher at the end of the eight week study compared to pre-study levels (p < 0.05). The kind of milk had no effect on serum levels of total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus and manganese. High dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus had no significant effect on serum manganese concentrations.