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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Vitamin C and zinc status of elderly women in residential care in Cape Town | | Author(s) | Karen E Charlton, Fatima Joosen, Shamiela Jaffer |
| Journal title | Southern African Journal of Gerontology, vol 7, no 2, October 1998 |
| Pages | pp 9-15 |
| Keywords | Vitamins ; Older women ; Malnutrition ; Care homes ; South Africa. |
| Annotation | Institutionalised older women are at risk of malnutrition, particularly regarding vitamin C and zinc deficiencies. These two micronutrients have been shown to play a role in wound healing and tissue repair, as well as immune function and appetite. A cross-sectional descriptive study assessed 49 women aged 65+ living in long-term care in Cape Town for dietary intake and anthropometrical assessments such as weight. Mean energy intake was 76% of the RDA. Mean vitamin C intake was less than a third of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), and zinc was about two-thirds of the RDA. No subject had an adequate intake of vitamin C (i.e. above 67% of the RDA). A low plasma concentration of vitamin C and zinc was found in 34% and 9.3% of subjects respectively. Most tended to be underweight. It is recommended that low-dose micronutrient supplementation be administered to older women in residential care, and that ongoing nutritional assessment be an integral part of their care. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-990206207 A |
| Classmark | CFE: BD: CSM: KW: 7PM |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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