Vitamin and mineral preparations used by the elderly living in Giessen

A. Straßburg, S. Schwarzpaul, P. Lührmann, M. Neuhäuser-Berthold, Giessen

In the last few years, the use of vitamin and mineral supplements has gained in importance. Within the frame-work of a long-term study in the elderly conducted in Giessen, type and number of preparations used by the elderly were determined.

Then the share of supplemented nutrients in the total nutrient supply of each person was calculated to find out the extent to which supplements help to come up to the D-A-CH reference values. 51.5 % of the women and 33.9 % of the men used vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Magnesium was the mineral most frequently supplemented. Of the vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin C were most frequently used.

On the group level it became obvious that supplements – except for vitamin D – contribute little to the total supply of vitamins and minerals. On the individual level, however, it has been shown that in many of the elderly the reference values for some nutrients are only achieved by vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Key words: Vitamin and mineral preparations / elderly / Giessen

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 03/06 ab Seite 84.