Vitamin E status in a group of elderly people from Madrid
Requejo, A.M.; Andrés, P.; Redondo, M.R.; Mena, M.C.; Navia, B.; Perea, J.M.; Lopez-Sobaler, A.M.; Ortega, R.M.
Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging 6(1): 72-74
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1279-7707 PMID: 11813089 Document Number: 540640
Objective: To evaluate the vitamin E status of a group of elderly individuals in Madrid, Spain. Design: The vitamin E status of 120 independently-living elderly people (aged 65-91 years) was investigated. A 5-day food record (including a Sunday) was kept in order to monitor food intake. Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: 95.2% of subjects showed intakes below those recommended; 86.7% did not even meet 66% of the recommended values. At serum level, subjects showed alpha-tocopherol values of 8.3+or-3.6 mg/litre, with no differences between men and women (8.5+or-3.6 mg/litre in men and 8.2+or-3.6 mg/litre in women). 51.7% (52.4% of men and 51.3% of women) showed levels below 7.8 mg/litre; 17.5% (14.3% of men and 19.2% of women) showed values of 5 mg/litre. The influence of diet at the biochemical level can be seen in subjects with intakes lower than 50% of the recommended who showed significantly lower serum levels (7.8+or-3.4 mg/litre) than those with greater intakes (9.3+or-4.2 mg/litre). This difference was independent of serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Subjects with coefficients of vitamin E (mg)/polyunsaturated fatty acids (g) (E/AGP) below the 5th percentile (0.32) had significantly lower serum alpha-tocopherol levels (5.3+or-1.1 mg/litre) than subjects with E/AGP of >=0.32 (8.5+or-3.7 mg/litre). Conclusion: Given the importance of vitamin E as an antioxidant, and its role in the prevention of a range of pathological processes, insufficient intakes (frequently detected in the group studied) should be corrected.