Estimation of intake and status of vitamin A, vitamin E and folate in older European adults: the ZENITH.
OBJECTIVE
To report selected dietary intake and vitamin status at baseline of volunteers participating in the ZENITH study and the correlation of vitamin status with zinc.


METHODS
A multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design.


METHODS
Clermont-Ferrand, Theix (France), Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy).


METHODS
In total, 387 healthy middle-aged (55-70 y) and older (70-87 y) men and women participated in the study.


METHODS
Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated 4-d recall record. Fasting blood samples were simultaneously analysed for retinol and alpha-tocopherol by the HLPC method. Erythrocyte folates were measured by a competitive immunoassay with direct chemiluminescence detection on an automatised immunoanalyser.


RESULTS
In all centres, men had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher mean nutrient intake than women. Comparison between age-groups showed that older individuals had significantly lower intakes of macro- and selected micronutrients than middle-aged subjects (P < 0.0001). A high fat intake (from 36 to 40% of total energy) was observed in all examined groups. In relation to biochemical measures of vitamin status, all parameters were above their respective cut-off values for normality and, thus, none of the subjects had biochemical evidence of deficiency of these selected vitamins. A moderate correlation was found with plasma vitamin A and serum zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.05) or red blood cell zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.01) and with erythrocyte folates and red blood cell zinc (r = 0.11, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There were only moderate differences in the nutrient intake of the ZENITH study volunteers among the four European centres. Their biochemical status for retinol, alpha-tocopherol and folate appeared adequate.
Polito
A
A
National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research, Human Nutrition Unit, Rome, Italy. polito@inran.it
Intorre
F
F
Andriollo-Sanchez
M
M
Azzini
E
E
Raguzzini
A
A
Meunier
N
N
Ducros
V
V
O'Connor
J M
JM
Coudray
C
C
Roussel
A M
AM
Maiani
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D015930:Diet Records; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid