Trace Minerals, Calcium and Magnesium Profile of Institutionalised Elderly

Abstract

Ageing is a normal process and not a disease. Ageing is the accumulation of changes that occur over a iifetime, resulting in an increasing acceptability to malnutrition and deaths. The absorption of minerals in ageing decreases due to morphological changes in the brush border membrane, diminisned secretion of digestive enzymes or metabolic alterations in nutrient transport mechanism. There are many minerals which are required in small quantities but they are very essential to maintain health status. Very few studies have been carried out towards this vein. Hence in the present study it was planned to evaluate the selected trace mineral content, calcium and magnesium of food consumed by the inmates of old age homes and also to estimate the selected trace minerals, calcium and magnesium content of blood, hair and nail samples of the selected elderly.