Evaluation of iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium in oral hospital diets.
OBJECTIVE
Many trace elements are nutrients essential to humans, acting in the metabolism as constituents or as enzymatic co-factors. The iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium contents of hospital diets (regular, blend and soft) and of oral food complement (OFC) were determined, evaluating the adequacy of each element in relation to the nutritional recommendations (DRIs) and the percent contribution alone and with OFC.


METHODS
Duplicate samples were taken of six daily meals and of the OFC on two non-consecutive days from a hospital in Belo Horizonte (MG, Brazil) in May and September of 2010 and January of 2011. The elements were determined by ICP OES.


RESULTS
Of the diets, the soft diet showed the highest elements content. Offering the OFC was insufficient to provide adequate levels of the trace elements.


CONCLUSIONS
The oral hospital diets were inadequate in relation to the RDAs for the trace elements studied and the use of the OFCs was insufficient to compensate the values.
Ouro Preto Federal University (UFOP), School of Nutrition, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: danielefariamoreira@gmail.com.
Daniele C F
DC
Moreira
Ouro Preto Federal University (UFOP), School of Nutrition, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Júlia S M
JS
de Sá
Institute of Food Technology (ITAL), Center of Foods Science and Quality, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Isabela B
IB
Cerqueira
Institute of Food Technology (ITAL), Center of Foods Science and Quality, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana P F
AP
Oliveira
Institute of Food Technology (ITAL), Center of Foods Science and Quality, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcelo A
MA
Morgano
Ouro Preto Federal University (UFOP), School of Nutrition, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Késia D
KD
Quintaes
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*
D019266:Iron, Dietary; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc
Dietotherapy; Food analysis; Food composition; Nutritional recommendations; Nutritional supplementation