Intake of Selected Minerals in Daily Food Rations of the Elderly

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyze the levels of selected minerals consumption by the elderly. The investigation was carried out in May and June of 1999 with people between 75 and 80 years of age permanently living in urban and rural areas and small towns of the province of Warmia and Mazury. In total, 160 males and 194 females were examined. The average consumption of nutrients was estimated by the 24-hour interview method. After including the standard loss, it was compared with a consumption norm on a safe level. The average consumption of the selected minerals i.e. Mg, Zn and Cu was compared between the sex and environment groups including the selected classes of norm completion (2/3, 90 and 110%). The average consumption of magnesium, zinc and copper was obtained for 54-59, 61 and 81-96% of the examined people respectively. This indicates the high risk of minerals insufficiency (below 2/3 of the norm). The largest percentage of people (65-91% of the examined) endangered with the insufficiency of the analyzed micro-and macro elements was obtained among the males and the females living in a small town.