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This study assessed the relation of an impaired taste and smell perception with (a) potential determinants and (b) nutritional intake and status in elderly people. Determinants examined were age, gender, functional category (institutionalized vs independently living), dental state, illnesses, smoking behavior, drug usage, and saliva excretion and composition. Nutritional intake and status were measured by an 'appetite and hunger' questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire, and body mass index (BMI). In order to have access to a large heterogeneous group, two different categories of elderly people were studied. We enrolled independently living elders (n = 89) assumed to have a relatively good taste and smell perception, and institutionalized elders (n = 67) with a potential poorer taste and smell perception. Scores at the smell identification (range: 0-10) and taste perception (range: 0-4) test were, respectively, 5.7 (independently living) versus 3.5 (institutionalized); p < .0001 and 3.3 versus 3.0; p < .05. Correlation between smell test scores and outcomes of the 'appetite and hunger' questionnaire ranged from r: .19 to .50; p values < .05. There was, however, no clear correlation of any sensory outcome with energy and food intake, nor with BMI. Regression analyses revealed that age and the functional category were the most important determinants of the scores on the taste perception and smell indentification tests. It is concluded that a poor performance on sensory tests is related to a poor appetite but not necessarily to low energy intake or low BMI. Age-related factors and smoking are important determinants of impaired sensory functioning.

Inadequate vitamin B-6 status is common among elderly people. It is still unclear to what extent factors other than reduced vitamin B-6 intake are responsible for this. We studied the vitamin B-6 intake and status [measured as plasma pyridoxal 5[prime]-phosphate (PLP)] in 546 elderly Europeans, aged 74-76 years, with no known vitamin B-6 supplement use. In addition, we examined interrelations and associations with other dietary and lifestyle factors, including indicators of physical health. Overall, 27% of the males and 42% of the females had dietary vitamin B-6 intakes below the mean minimum requirements (.015 mg/g protein and/or < 1.0 mg/day), and 22% of both males and females had low plasma PLP levels (< 20 nmol/L). Plasma PLP was positively associated with vitamin B-6 intake, alcohol intake, and serum albumin, and was weakly negatively associated with body mass index. Although the serum albumin levels fell within the normal range, these findings suggest that this transport protein is related with vitamin B-6 status of elderly people, either directly or as a result of underlying health problems. It is concluded that, based on the references for younger adults, the vitamin B-6 status of elderly people is marginal. Trials are needed to quantify functional and health consequences of improving the vitamin B-6 status of elderly people.

The dietary intakes of energy and the vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, B6, and C were assessed in four groups of elderly people, using the same modified dietary history method. The groups consisted of female nursing home residents (n = 40), people at admission to a nursing home (n = 21), free-living elderly people with a sedentary life style (n = 120), and physically active free-living elderly people (n = 66). Mean energy intake varied from 6.5 [+ or -] 1.2 Megajoule (MJ)/day (nursing home residents) to 8.8 [+ or -] 2.2 MJ/day (physically very active persons) in females and from 8.8 [+ or -] 2.5 MJ/day (admission to nursing home) to 10.1 [+ or -] 2.3 MJ/day (physically very active persons) in males. Dietary intakes of the selected vitamins were below the minimum requirements in almost half of the nursing home residents. However, the relative contribution of the various food groups to the dietary intake of these vitamins was similar in the four groups of elderly people. Stimulation of physical activity to increase energy requirements and use of foods with a high nutrient density may result in an improvement of dietary adequacy.

The related functions of concentration-perceived intensity, concentration-pleasantness and perceived intensity-pleasantness in different food flavors were examined. Alterations in psychophysical and psychohedonic functions of food flavors connected to age depend on particular food flavors.