Nutritional deficiencies in institutionalized mentally retarded and physically disabled individuals.

The folic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin A status of 150 individuals in a hospital for mentally retarded persons was examined. Because many of the subjects were incontinent, it was necessary to use blood samples. Folic acid deficiency was determined from plasma levels and from examination of stained peripheral blood smears for megaloblastic changes in the leucocytes. Riboflavin deficiency was determined from estimation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase and vitamin A in plasma by a colorimetric method. Twenty percent of the subjects had evidence of folic acid deficiency, 17% had evidence of riboflavin deficiency, and none had vitamin A deficiency.