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Nutritional State of Elderly Women on Admission to Mental Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. R. Hancock ,
R. P. Hullin ,
P. R. Aylard ,
J. R. King  and
D. B. Morgan
M. R. Hancock
Affiliation:
High Royds Hospital, Menston, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 6AQ
R. P. Hullin*
Affiliation:
University of Leeds; Regional Metabolic Research Unit, High Royds Hospital
P. R. Aylard
Affiliation:
St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TS
J. R. King
Affiliation:
Napsbury Hospital, Herts., AL2 1AA. Present post: Barnsley Hall Hospital, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 0EX
D. B. Morgan
Affiliation:
University of Leeds, LS2 9JT
*
∗Reprint Requests
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Abstract

Since nutritional deficiencies might worsen the severity of symptoms and prolong the length of illness in non-nutritional disorders, particularly in the elderly, we examined the nutritional status of 216 elderly women newly admitted to a mental hospital. Compared to healthy elderly women, they had lower values for plasma prealbumin, vitamin C, and B vitamins. This was particularly common in senile dementia, and appeared to be the result of inadequate intake of protein or vitamins. Regular hospital diet for one month corrected the very low levels of prealbumin, but supplements were essential to remove deficiency of the water-soluble vitamins. Although vitamin supplements did not influence the length of stay in hospital, we did not exclude the possibility that nutritional deficiencies have a significant effect on the severity of mental illness.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 147 , Issue 4 , October 1985 , pp. 404 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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