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. 2015 Aug;18(11):1907-13.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980014002420. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Risk of malnutrition and zinc deficiency in community-living elderly men and women: the Tromsø Study

Jan-Magnus Kvamme  1 , Ole Grønli  2 , Bjarne K Jacobsen  3 , Jon Florholmen  1
Affiliations

Risk of malnutrition and zinc deficiency in community-living elderly men and women: the Tromsø Study

Jan-Magnus Kvamme et al. Public Health Nutr. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

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.

Design: 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.

Setting: Municipality of Tromsø, Norway.

Subjects: 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.

Keywords: Elderly people; Malnutrition; Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool; Mental distress; Zinc deficiency.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is composed of a BMI score, a weight-loss score and an acute illness component. The risk of malnutrition can be assessed based on the sum of these scores. The ‘MUST’ tool is reproduced here with the kind permission of BAPEN (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition). For further information on ‘MUST’ and management guidelines, see www.bapen.org.uk
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Zinc deficiency, given as % and (n/N, the number of subjects with zinc deficiency/number of subjects in the group) for all men and women, as well as for low and medium/high risk categories of malnutrition, the Tromsø Study, 2007–2008
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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