Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai, China.

Background And Objectives: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults.

Methods And Study Design: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months. The concentrations of micronutrients, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected both at baseline and at the end of the study.

Results: The changes in concentrations of serum folate (21.1±1.6 vs 0.6±0.5 nmol/L), vitamin B-1 (3.4±0.4 vs -0.2±0.3 nmol/L), vitamin B-2 (11.5±3.3 vs 2.3±1.4 nmol/L), vitamin B-12 (128.8±34.8 vs 13.3±16.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (17.8±1.3 vs -0.8±0.5 ng/mL) and plasma zinc (0.6±1.8 vs -9.6±1.9 μmol/L) over 3-months were significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). While the prevalence of folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D deficiencies were significantly decreased after 3-months intervention (all p<0.05). Moreover, changes in serum MDA level (-1.5±0.2 vs 0.2±0.3 nmol/mL) were remarkably reduced, and the activities of serum GSH-Px (1.3±0.3 vs 0.3±0.2 ng/mL) and plasma SOD (14.3±2.4 vs -2.1±2.4 U/mL) were increased in the intervention group than those of in the control group (all p<0.01).

Conclusions: The micronutrient pack among institutional older adults was well-accepted with good compliance and tolerance. The 3-month intervention may improve micronutrient status and enhance antioxidative capacities.