Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai, China.

Background and Objectives: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults. Methods and Study Design: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months. The concentrations of micronutrients, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected both at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: The changes in concentrations of serum folate (21.1 +/- 1.6 vs 0.6 +/- 0.5 nmol/L), vitamin B-1 (3.4 +/- 0.4 vs -0.2 +/- 0.3 nmol/L), vitamin B-2 (11.5 +/- 3.3 vs 2.3 +/- 1.4 nmol/L), vitamin B-12 (128.8 +/- 34.8 vs 13.3 +/- 16.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (17.8 +/- 1.3 vs -0.8 +/- 0.5 ng/mL) and plasma zinc (0.6 +/- 1.8 vs -9.6 +/- 1.9 mu mol/L) over 3-months were significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). While the prevalence of folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D deficiencies were significantly decreased after 3-months intervention (all p<0.05). Moreover, changes in serum MDA level (-1.5 +/- 0.2 vs 0.2 +/- 0.3 nmol/mL) were remarkably reduced, and the activities of serum GSH-Px (1.3 +/- 0.3 vs 0.3 +/- 0.2 ng/mL) and plasma SOD (14.3 +/- 2.4 vs -2.1 +/- 2.4 U/mL) were increased in the intervention group than those of in the control group (all p<0.01). Conclusions: The micronutrient pack among institutional older adults was well-accepted with good compliance and tolerance. The 3-month intervention may improve micronutrient status and enhance antioxidative capacities.