Micronutrient intake in advanced age: Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tapuwae Kia ora Tonu, Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ).
A high prevalence of undernutrition has previously been reported in indigenous Māori (49 %) and non-Māori (38 %) octogenarians and may be associated with risk of micronutrient deficiencies. We examined vitamin and mineral intakes and the contributing food sources among 216 Māori and 362 non-Māori participating in Life and Living to Advanced age a Cohort Study in New Zealand, using a repeat 24-h multiple-pass recall. More than half of the Māori and non-Māori participants had intakes below the estimated average requirement from food alone for Ca, Mg and Se. Vitamin B6(Māori women only), folate (women only), vitamin E (Māori women; all men) and Zn (men only) were low in these ethnic and sex subgroups. Women had intakes of higher nutrient density in folate, vitamin C, Ca, Mg, K, vitamin A (non-Māori) andβ-carotene (Māori) compared with men (P<0·05). When controlling for age and physical function,β-carotene, folate, vitamin C, Ca and Mg were no longer significantly different, but vitamins B2, B12, E and D, Fe, Na, Se and Zn became significantly different for Māori between men and women. When controlling for age and physical function, vitamins A and C and Ca were no longer significantly different, but vitamin B2, Fe, Na and Zn became significantly different for non-Māori between men and women. For those who took nutritional supplements, Māori were less likely to be deficient in food alone intake of vitamin A, folate and Mg, whereas non-Maori were less likely to be deficient in intakes of Mg, K and Zn, but more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12intake. A lack of harmonisation in nutrient recommendations hinders the interpretation of nutrient adequacy; nonetheless, Ca, Mg and Se are key micronutrients of concern. Milk and cheese were important contributions to Ca intake, whereas bread was a key source of Mg and Se. Examination of dietary intake related to biochemical status and health outcomes will establish the utility of these observations.
School of Food and Nutrition, College of Health, Massey University, North Shore, Auckland 0745, New Zealand.
Carol
C
Wham
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Ruth
R
Teh
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Simon A
SA
Moyes
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Anna
A
Rolleston
James Henare Māori Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Marama
M
Muru-Lanning
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Karen
K
Hayman
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Ngaire
N
Kerse
Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Health & Society and Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, UK.
Ashley
A
Adamson
A Cohort Study in New Zealand; Dietary intake; Life and Living in Advanced Age; Māori; Octogenarians