Nutrition and Physical Function in Elders

Despite its importance, the relation between nutrition and physical decline in elders is unclear. To examine the role of micronutrients, Italian investigators followed 698 community-living adults (mean age, 74) for 3 years after baseline assessment of physical and cognitive function, chronic disease, and serum folate, iron, and vitamins B₆, B₁₂, D, and E.

Physical function was assessed with a structured test of 4-meter walking speed, repeated chair rises, and standing balance (12-point scale). Overall, the 3-year mean decline in physical function was 1.1 points. In multivariate analysis that was adjusted for a wide range of demographic and health risks, participants with vitamin E concentrations in the lowest quartile (<1.1 μg/mL [24.9 μmol/…