title: Serum concentration and dietary intake of vitamins A and E in low-income South African elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adequate dietary intake of antioxidants is vital for the promotion of health, well being and longevity of the elderly. This study assessed the prevalence of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) deficiency in a population of low-income South African elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations were determined in 235 persons aged 60-93 years in Sharpeville, South Africa. Dietary assessment was done using 24-h recall. Weight and height were measured to determine body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean and standard deviation of serum levels in the elderly were 1.41+/-1.4 micromol/L for vitamin A and 2.1+/-1.1 mg/l for vitamin E. The proportion with deficient serum vitamin A was 28.2% and 26.5% for men and women respectively and 20.5% and 20.9% respectively for deficient vitamin E concentrations. Almost one-third of the subjects consumed less than 100% of the Estimated Average Requirement for both vitamins. Mean vitamin A intake was 426+/-666 microg in men and 368+/-811 microg in women, mean vitamin E intake for men and women was 5.4+/-5.2 microg and 4.0+/-0.5 mg respectively. The predominant macronutrient consumed was carbohydrate. No relationship existed between biochemical and dietary intake parameters of vitamins A and E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate poor dietary intake and high prevalence of vitamins A and E deficiency among this elderly population. Sustainable community-based interventions are needed to address this nutritional vulnerability in this community.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sustainable Livelihoods, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa. wilna@vut.ac.za
authors.forename: Wilna H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oldewage-Theron
authors.forename: Folake O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Djoulde
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E