Bartali B, Frongillo EA, Guralnik JM, et al. Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function Among Older Persons. JAMA 2008 Jan 23;299(3):308-315.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/299/3/308
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/3/308
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/3/308
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Vol. 299 No. 3, January 23, 2008
JAMA
Original Contribution
Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function Among Older Persons
Benedetta Bartali, RD, PhD; Edward A. Frongillo, PhD; Jack M. Guralnik, MD, PhD; Martha H. Stipanuk, PhD; Heather G. Allore, PhD; Antonio Cherubini, MD, PhD; Stefania Bandinelli, MD; Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD; Thomas M. Gill, MD
JAMA. 2008;299(3):308-315.
Context Maintaining independence of older persons is a public health priority, and identifying the factors that contribute to decline in physical function is needed to prevent or postpone the disablement process. The potential deleterious effect of poor nutrition on decline in physical function in older persons is unclear.
Objective To determine whether a low serum concentration of micronutrients is associated with subsequent decline in physical function among older men and women living in the community.
Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal study of 698 community-living persons 65 years or older who were randomly selected from a population registry in Tuscany, Italy. Participants completed the baseline examination from November 1, 1998, through May 28, 2000, and the 3-year follow-up assessments from November 1, 2001, through March 30, 2003.
Main Outcome Measure Decline in physical function was defined as a loss of at least 1 point in the Short Physical Performance Battery during the 3-year follow-up. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the lowest quartile of each nutrient using the other 3 quartiles combined as the reference group. Two additional and complementary analytical approaches were used to confirm the validity of the results.
Results The mean decline in the Short Physical Performance Battery score was 1.1 point. In a logistic regression analysis that was adjusted for potential confounders, only a low concentration of vitamin E (
Conclusions These results provide empirical evidence that a low serum concentration of vitamin E is associated with subsequent decline in physical function among community-living older adults. Clinical trials may be warranted to determine whether an optimal concentration of vitamin E reduces functional decline and the onset of disability in older persons.
Author Affiliations: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (Drs Bartali, Frongillo, and Stipanuk); Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Drs Bartali, Allore, and Gill); Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia (Dr Frongillo); Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry (Dr Guralnik) and Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch (Dr Ferrucci), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland; Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Medical School Policlinico Monteluce, Perugia, Italy (Dr Cherubini); and Azienda Sanitaria Firenze, Florence, Italy (Dr Bandinelli).
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© 2008 American Medical Association.
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see also news coverage:
Low Vitamin E Levels Associated With Physical Decline In Elderly
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122165555.htm