Energy intake and micronutrient intake in elderly Europeans: seeking the minimum requirement in the SENECA study

Objective: to examine energy intake of elderly people participating in the Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly, a Concerted Action (SENECA) study in relation to the adequacy of micronutrient intake. Design: data from eight countries on 486 men and 513 women who were 74-79 years old. Dietary intakes of energy, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and pyridoxine were calculated. Results: there was inadequate intake of one or more nutrients in 23.9% of men and 46.8% of women. The prevalence of inadequate intakes decreased gradually with higher energy intakes. Of all people with energy intakes exceeding 1500 kcal, 19% of men and 26% of women still had an inadequate intake of at least one micronutrient. Conclusion: we found no single criterion ensuring level of energy intake with an adequate micronutrient supply. The prevalence of an inadequate intake of micronutrients was high at all energy intake levels, especially in women.