A Comparison of Nutritional Status and Muscle Strength of Elderly Women in a Social Welfare Center and Those Residing at Home

Lee, Ok Hee

Abstract

In this study, the nutrient intakes, dietary quality, and muscle strength of elderly women in a social-welfare center of a large city were compared with those of elderly women at home in a large city. Also, the relationships between muscle strength and nutrient intake status were investigated in both elderly group. The results of this study were as follows: The ages of elderly in the social welfare center and of elderly in general home residing elderly were 68.2 and 70.3 years, respectively. The average energy and nutrient intakes of both groups were lower than the Korean RDA. There were no differences between the groups in terms of macro-nutrient composition and quantity. The elderly in center showed significantly lower intakes of vitamin B2, niacin and calcium than the home-residing elderly. The hand grip strength and back muscle strength were lower in the elderly of social welfare center, but a significant difference was found only in the left hand grip strength. The muscle strength, especially the left hand grip strength of those in social welfare center, showed significant correlations with various nutrient intakes. In contrast, generally no relationship between muscle strength and nutrients intakes status could be found in the home residing elderly. The variances in the mean hand grip strength and the left hand grip strength 19.0% and 18.6% respectively, were explained by their ages. This is in contrast to 22.3% and 32.4% of calorie intake and vegetable protein intake in the elderly of the social welfare center. In conclusion, the status of nutrient intake in those in the social welfare center seems to be low, and it is assumed that the low calorie and vegetable protein intake may contribute to the muscle strength decline in the socioeconomically high risk elderly.