Iron, folate, and vitamin B12 status in the elderly by gender and ethnicity.

Objective: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2002 data were used to examine gender and ethnicity relationships to iron, folate, and vitamin B12 status, and anemia in 1770 elderly persons.

Methods: Dependent variables included dietary intakes and biochemical measures of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 status, and hemoglobin. T Tests were performed using SUDAAN software (version 9.0; Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina). The relationships of gender and ethnicity to adequacy of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 status, and anemia were investigated using chi2 tests.

Results: Males had significantly higher nutrient intakes and better biochemical measures of iron status but lower biochemical measures of folate and vitamin B12. Whites were significantly more likely to have nutrient intakes higher than those recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board. No clear pattern of biochemical measures of iron status was seen among the ethnic groups, and there was no significant relationship between iron status and ethnicity. Biochemical measures of folate status were significantly higher in whites and Mexican Americans than in blacks. No significant relationships were found between folate status and ethnicity. Mean serum vitamin B12 was significantly higher in blacks than in whites and was lowest in other Hispanics who were significantly more likely to be vitamin B12 deficient. Blacks had significantly lower mean hemoglobin values than whites and were significantly more likely to be anemic.

Conclusions: Based on biochemical measures, elderly males are at higher risk of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Ethnicity was not significantly related to either iron or folate status. Other Hispanics were significantly more likely to be vitamin B12 deficient.