title: Nutritional status of the elderly in rural North China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the nutritional status of elderly people living in a rural area of North China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based, cross-sectional prevalence survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 rural towns of Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1845 community residents (29.1% of those eligible) 55 years or older (birth before 1958-01-01).
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were assessed regarding demographic characteristics, height, weight, as well as having a physical examination and blood sampling for serum cholesterol, total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  991 (53.7%) were female and 139 (7.5%) did not complete the anthropometric measurement. Prevalence of underweight and obesity was 3.5% and 24.9% in men and 6.7% and 31.0% in women (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, respectively). Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypocholesterolemia was 13.5% and 52.6% in men and 25.0% and 34.3% in women (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Prevalence of high LDL-c concentrations was 8.8% in men and 16.8% in women (P < 0.001). The mean serum tHcy in men (28.8 ± 20.1 μmmol/l) was significantly higher than in women (21.0 ± 15.1 μmmol/L, P < 0.001). Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (defined as > 15μmmol/L) was 79.7% in men and 65.5% in women (P < 0.001). Prevalence of low folate (defined as < 11 nmol/L) and vitamin B12 levels (defiend as < 185 pmol/L) was 70.8 % and 76.8% in men and 56.5% and 72.6% in women (P < 0.001, P = 0.036, respectively). Correlation coefficients between tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 indicated an inverse linear correlation (r = -0.21, P < 0.001, r = -0.35, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As China's economic climate has developed, the nutritional status of elderly people in the rural parts of the country has improved in some aspects. However, the trend toward obesity will lead to a shift in the burden of obesity-related chronic diseases. In addition, rurally-located elderly people are at high risk of death that may be associated with abnormal serum cholesterol. The data also suggest that severe deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 levels exist, as well as there being a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia. Folate and vitamin B12 supplementation are necessary to prevent related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Yuan Niu, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. No. 85, Jiefang Nan Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, PRC, Email: niuxiaoyuan@yeah.net,Tel/Fax: +8603514639510.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H-X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: G-W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: X-Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: L-S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M-Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: C-X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D014805:Vitamin B 12