Relação entre a ingestão habitual de vitamina A e a composição corporal em idosos da comunidade

Abstract

The aging process brings with it physiological changes that involve the gradual change in body composition resulting in loss of skeletal muscle mass and gain in fat mass. Physiological changes characteristic of aging, together with changes in eating habits at this stage, contribute to inadequacies in the intake of micronutrients, especially vitamin A. Studies have shown a positive association between adequate intake of vitamin A and anthropometric parameters in younger personnel. However, elderly Brazilians have a high prevalence of inadequate consumption of this vitamin, which may contribute to the high percentages of body fat in the elderly. Given the above, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the usual intake of vitamin A and the body composition of elderly people in the community of Lavras, Minas Gerais. This is a cross-sectional study, approved by the Ethics Committee for Research with Human Beings of the Federal University of Lavras, carried out with men and women aged ≥ 60 years, who attend support and social centers for city dwellers. Food consumption was assessed by applying two 24-hour recalls, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist and calf circumference) and body composition by bioelectrical impedance were performed. As a result, eutrophy was identified in 41.8% of the volunteers according to body mass index and 88.7% of the sample presented a percentage of excessive body fat. A high inadequacy of consumption of vitamins A and B6 (>90%) and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and selenium (>80%) was also identified. No correlation was found between the intake of vitamin A and the body composition of the volunteers. It is concluded that in the studied sample of elderly people from the community there is a high inadequacy of dietary intake of vitamin A and there is no correlation between the usual intake of vitamin A and body composition data. It is possible that the low intake of this vitamin does not allow establishing too much correlations with body composition parameters.