Protein status of the elderly as measured by dietary intake, hair tissue, and serum albumin

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Abstract
The nutritional status of 95 Medicare-age individuals was evaluated by dietary intake, physical condition, and components of urine, blood, and hair roots. Correlations between protein intake and five variables (serum albumin, red blood cell count, percentage of anagen hairs, protein content per anagen hair root, and anagen bulb diameter) selected as indicators of protein nutriture were studied. Deficient protein intake correlated positively with the protein content of anagenic hair roots. The protein content of anagenic hair roots correlated positively with the serum albumin levels. Protein intake did not correlate with serum albumin level. It is likely that with the relative depletion of protein stores there is impaired synthesis of hair root protein before a decrease in the synthesis of serum albumin which serves a more vital function.