Nutritional status of vitamin A in a healthy elderly population in Japan

In this study nutritional status of vitamin A (VA) in a healthy elderly population in Japan was examined. Healthy elderly volunteers with mean age of about 67 at the start of the study were recruited. Analysis of serum VA concentration was carried out four times in two consecutive years. No deficient subject was detected from the serum VA concentration. Only small percentages were assessed to be in a low or marginal VA status. Consequently, the nutritional status of VA in the elderly Japanese seemed to be adequate judging from the serum VA concentration. Contrary to that, mean values of daily dietary intake of VA in both females and males were almost acceptable but the respective values varied over a wide range with no correlation with the serum VA concentrations. Accordingly, serum VA concentration provided a more definitive evaluation to assess VA nutriture than its dietary intake.