Mineral Intake and Blood Pressure Control of Brazilian Elderly

Abstract

Abbreviations: NCD, chronic noncommunicable diseases;EAR, estimated average requirement; AI, adequate intake; UL, maximum tolerable upper intake level; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure IntroductionBrazil is going through a demographic transition which results in the rapid aging of the population.1,2 The Brazilian population with more than 80 years, was approximately 731,350 inhabitants in year 2000, and increased to 1,133,223 in 2010. 3 Changes due to aging make people more vulnerable to disease development, with an emphasis on chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). 4 The current food pattern also contributes to the increased incidence of NCDs. The growth in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods results in a greater intake of calories, fats, sugars and sodium, nutrients closely related to diseases such as obesity and hypertension. 5Micronutrient intake among Brazilian elderly is far from the recommended values, in consequence of the low variety of foods in the diet 6 and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. 5 The Brazilian population consumes approximately a quarter of the value recommended by the Brazilian Food Guide 7 for these foods. 8 Although necessary in relatively small amounts, minerals are involved in the regulation of physiological processes, such as reproduction, immune response, metabolism and neural functions. Minerals must be obtained through food and inadequate consumption can lead to serious damage to health, increasing morbidity and mortality. High sodium intake has a correlation with NCDs, including hypertension, 10 which is one of the most prevalent diseases among the elderly.11,12 Inadequate intake of calcium and potassium may also contribute to the elevation of pressure levels.13-15 Among Brazilians aged 75 or over, the proportion of hypertensive patients is 55%. 16,17 As for iron deficiency, in addition to causing anemia, it can still lead to a decrease in cognitive abilities in the elderly. 18 Individuals with reduced cognitive abilities may have lower adherence to medications, including antihypertensive drugs. 19 The aim of this study was to investigate the consumption of minerals by very elderly hypertensive individuals, in outpatient follow-up. Materials and methodsThe study target population consisted of patients aged 80 and over who were under regular treatment at a public reference center for the treatment of hypertension. A specific questionnaire was applied for the collection of sociodemographic and lifestyle data. The dietary intake of iron, sodium, calcium and potassium was evaluated by calculating three 24-hour recall, collected on non-consecutive days, including one weekend with Dietwin software professional version. The mineral content of the diet was analyzed according to the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). To estimate the prevalence of inadequacy in mineral consumption, the estimated average requirement (EAR) values were taken into account. 20,21 In the case of potassium, where there is no established EAR, the adequat...