Analysis of chosen macronutrients and vitamin D in daily food rations of elderly men and women in the context of calcium-phosphorus homeostasis

The loss of bone mineral components is an obvious and progressing process in elderly men and women. The rate of the bone metabolic turnover is associated with the nutrition and environmental conditions. Vitamins and minerals in a diet are indispensable for both prevention and treatment of diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate vitamin D, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and to compare Ca-P homeostasis in daily dietary intake among the elderly members of a population-based study in Ko³obrzeg. The examined population comprised a group of 479 randomly chosen people aged > 51 years, including 316 women and 163 men. The eating habits of the respondents were evaluated in 2009. The information on individual food consumption was obtained by dietary history interviews (3 x 24-hour dietary recall). The research proved that the vitamin D and Ca supply with a daily diet was extremely low, in contrast to the P content, which significantly exceeded the recommended daily intake for this age group. Daily food rations of both women and men were not properly balanced in terms of Ca and P and vitamin D. It was revealed that the vitamin D supply in the daily dietary intake of the elderly persons was very low, covering from 22 to 40% of the Adequate Intake (AI). Vitamin D is necessary for maintaining an appropriate calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in the body and ensuring that many tissues, organs and cells function properly. A diet rich in vitamin D and Ca has been identified as playing a potential role in the prevention of bone diseases. A change in dietary habits can be an important factor in reducing the incidence of chronic diseases, particularly an elevated fracture risk in osteoporosis.