Nutrient intake in an elderly population in southern France (POLANUT): deficiency in some vitamins, minerals and omega-3 PUFA.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the nutritional status of an elderly cohort from a French Mediterranean area.


METHODS
Cross-sectional nutritional assessment in the framework of the population-based POLA cohort.


METHODS
832 subjects aged 70 years or older answered a 165-item, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Mean Nutritional Need (MNN) was defined as 77% of the French Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The risk for clinical deficiency (CD) was defined as intakes lower than the Limit Threshold Intake (70% of the MNN).


RESULTS
Consumption was characterized by an excess of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (95.4% of subjects above the RDA) and a deficit of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (60.1% and 46.9% of subjects at risk for CD for alpha-linolenic (ALA) and long-chain omega-3 PUFA, respectively). Median intakes of fiber, vitamins B6, B9, and D, calcium, and magnesium were below the RDA. Dairy products were the first providers of SFA, nuts of ALA, and fish of long-chain omega-3 PUFA and vitamin D.


CONCLUSIONS
The study identified an unbalanced food intake, with an excess of mammal animal products, mainly of dairy products, and a deficit of fish and vegetal foods. This resulted in a deficiency in some vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 PUFA.
Inserm, E361, Montpellier, F-34093, France. carriere@montp.inserm.fr
Isabelle
I
Carrière
Cécile
C
Delcourt
Annie
A
Lacroux
Mariette
M
Gerber
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008903:Minerals; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008274:Magnesium