Prevalence and Predictors of Subclinical Micronutrient Deficiency in German Older Adults: Results from the Population-Based KORA-Age Study

Subclinical micronutrient deficiency in older adults is associated with chronic age-related diseases and adverse functional outcomes. In Germany, the older population is at risk of insufficient micronutrient intake, but representative studies on micronutrient status in old and very old adults are scarce. This study's objectives were to estimate the prevalence of subclinical vitamin D, folate, vitamin B and iron deficiencies among older adults, aged 65 to 93, from the KORA-Age study in Augsburg, Germany ( = 1079), and to examine associated predictors, using multiple logistic regression. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), folate, vitamin B , and iron were analyzed. The prevalence of subclinical vitamin D and vitamin B deficiencies were high, with 52.0% and 27.3% of individuals having low 25OHD (