Vitamin status of older women.

A study of the nutritional vitamin status of older women included 46 patients in nursing homes and 24 residents of private homes. The age range was 62 through 99 years. Calculated values for the mean daily caloric and vitamin intakes indicated that vitamin A and thiamin were the vitamins that compared less favorably with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Values for vitamin A and C in sera and for thiamin, riboflavin, and N-methyl nicotinamide excretion were compared with standards of adequacy, Vitamin A values in sera of 14% of all subjects were "deficient" or "low". All serum ascorbic acid levels were "acceptable". Thiamin and riboflavin concentrations in urine of 17 and 15% of the subjects, respectively, were "deficient" or "low". Except for one subject, all N-methyl nicotamide values were "acceptable". In general, values for caloric and vitamin intakes and for corresponding levels of vitamins in sera or urine of patients in nursing homes did not differ significantly from analogous values obtained for subjects in private homes. The effect of age and income and education level are discussed.