THIAMINE STATUS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED AND NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED AGED

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (4) , 325-335
Abstract
Thiamine status of 196 institutionalized (in hospital, residential accommodation and sheltered dwelling) and non-institutionalized Caucasian aged subjects was assessed by combined dietary, biochemical and clinical studies. Fourteen subjects (7.1%) consumed less than 2/3 of recommended vitamin B1/day. Erythrocyte transketolase activity coefficient (a) test indicated biochemical deficiency of thiamine in 17.6% males and 12.5% females. The incidence of deficiency was highest in subjects of sheltered dwelling. Multivitamin supplementation failed to raise the biochemical thiamine status to normal in 2.9% subjects. No characteristic clinical features of thiamine deficiency were noted, though extreme loss of appetite was reported by 3 subjects with activity coefficient > 1.30. Dietary intake was not always associated with deficient biochemical indices. The possible factors such as alcohol intake and low folate status affecting the biochemical status of thiamine are discussed.