Abstract
[Objective] Importance of micronutrients is tended to be undervalued in comparison to that of the three major nutrients in nutritional management of the long term-hospitalized elderly. The aim of this prospective comparative study is to investigate influences of micronutrients enrichment on nutritional state and prevention of infection in the long term-hospitalized elderly.
[Methods] Fifty four hospitalized elderly were randomized to those who took micronutrients-enriched jelly prior to regular lunch meal (treated group), and those who did not (non-treated group). During 90 study days, blood biochemical analysis, nutritional assessment and observation of febrile event were performed.
[Results] Plasma levels of transthyretin (TTR) increased significantly in the treated group. A significant negative correlation between the plasma levels of TTR and cumulative frequency of febrile event during the 90-study days was found in the treated group, while this correlation was not observed in the nontreated group.
[Conclusion] In nutritional management of the long term-hospitalized elderly, it was suggested that micronutrients enrichment is important equally to the three major nutrients supply.
