[Investigation of the nutritional status of the elderly for the development of guidelines for nutritional management in the ultra-aged society].

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient intake and the nutritional state of elderly people who live independently in a region with an aging rate (percentage of the elderly 65 or above to the entire population) of 50% and to develop guidelines for nutritional improvement to extend the healthy lifespan in the upcoming ultra-aged society in which, by definition, aging rate exceeds 21%.

Methods: The study investigated the diet, physical constitution and blood biochemistry of 38 elderly people living in a region with an aging rate of 50% and compared the results with 23 elderly people living in a region with an aging rate of 18%.

Results: In the ultra-aged region the elderly people had a tendency for serum, triglyceride to be high and calcium to be low. The rate of the elderly living alone was high and the solitary elderly tended to have poor intake of vegetable fats, albumin, iron and zinc. The elderly men in the ultra-aged region had the lowest rate of recommended dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin B1.

Conclusions: The results indicated that extending a healthy lifespan in an ultra-aged society requires less intake of animal fats and more intake of vitamin B1 and calcium and a close assessment of the nutritional state of zinc, iron, and selenium. In order to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and to extend healthy life expectancy, the nutrition management of the elderly living alone is particularly important