Risk of malnutrition and zinc deficiency in community-living elderly men and women: the Tromsø Study.
OBJECTIVE
Elderly people may be at particular risk of Zn deficiency due to an increased prevalence of malnutrition. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Zn status in community-living elderly people at risk of malnutrition.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based survey. Individuals at risk of malnutrition were identified by the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. Zn status was assessed by measuring serum Zn. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between the risk of malnutrition and Zn deficiency.


METHODS
Municipality of Tromsø, Norway.


METHODS
Random sample of 743 men and 778 women aged 65-87 years.


RESULTS
Zn deficiency was found in 10.1% of the participants, including 13.1% of the men and 7.3% of the women. Among the men and women at risk of malnutrition, 31.0% and 12.7%, respectively, had Zn deficiency. In a model adjusted for age, gender, serum albumin and smoking status, Zn deficiency was positively associated with the risk of malnutrition (OR=2.2; 95% CI 1.3, 3.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, Zn deficiency was found in one out of ten community-living elderly people and was associated with the risk of malnutrition. Our results encourage the assessment of Zn status in elderly people at risk of malnutrition, with a special emphasis on elderly men.
1Department of Clinical Medicine,Research Group of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Tromsø,N-9037 Tromsø,Norway.
Jan-Magnus
JM
Kvamme
3Department of Addiction and Specialised Psychiatric Services,University Hospital North Norway,Tromsø,Norway.
Ole
O
Grønli
5Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Tromsø,Tromsø,Norway.
Bjarne K
BK
Jacobsen
1Department of Clinical Medicine,Research Group of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Tromsø,N-9037 Tromsø,Norway.
Jon
J
Florholmen
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
D015032:Zinc
Elderly people; Malnutrition; Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool; Mental distress; Zinc deficiency