title: Serum micronutrient status and nutrient intake of elderly Yoruba people in a slum of Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conceived in response to a perceived lack of data about the nutritional status of free-living elderly Yoruba people living in a poor urban area in south-western Nigeria. The major focus was to assess the micronutrient status of elderly Yoruba people living in a slum of Ibadan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to collect data on dietary intake and micronutrient status.
  
  
  METHODS
  By means of a structured questionnaire and the estimated food record method, nutrient intake was assessed. Blood was taken from 120 people to determine serum micronutrient levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 240 elderly Yoruba people were selected from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria using a random sampling technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diet of the elderly Yoruba participants was mainly plant based and inadequate in B vitamins (especially B1, B6 and folic acid) and micronutrients such as Zn. The intake of vitamin A ranged from 269 to 487 μg/d, while vitamin B1 and B2 intakes ranged from 0·20 to 0·82 mg/d in both males and females. The intake of vitamin C varied from 24·8 to 42·8 mg/d. The majority of participants had insufficient serum levels of vitamins and minerals relative to reference values. Forty per cent were deficient in serum Ca, 71% were deficient in serum Zn and 51% were deficient in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the elderly Yoruba people were deficient in Zn, ferritin and vitamin B6. This is the result of a diet lacking in vitamins and minerals.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), UNAAB PO Box 54, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, 27/AB/NG.
authors.forename: Ibiyemi O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Olayiwola
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Grace T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fadupin
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University (BU), Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Serifat O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Agbato
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), UNAAB PO Box 54, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, 27/AB/NG.
authors.forename: Deborah O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Soyewo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005293:Ferritins; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid