Alborz University

Backgrounds and Objective:Vitamin D and calcium are two important factors for maintaining health and the elderlyrequires to these factors is more than other age groups. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency can cause many problems for humans. The present study aimed to determine the daily intake of calcium and vitamin D in the elderly of Karaj city. 

Materials and Method: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in health centers of Karaj city in 2014. The valid questionnaire was used for data collecting from elderly ≥ 60 years (N=286). Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 19) and the descriptive - analytical tests.

Results:52/4% of the participants in this study were female and 47/6% were male. Minimum & maximum age was 60 & 87 years. 51/4 % of them were uneducated or illiterate. The majority of women were housekeeper & the majority of men were retired or workless. The averageof daily intake of calcium and vitamin D were 577/12 mg and 27/18 IU. As sunlight use 20.2% were in undesirable condition. A significant relationship was between gender & job of participants with sunshine using (P<0/05).

Conclusion: According to the results it's obvious that nutritional status and lifestyle of elderly in Karaj city (about calcium and vitamin D intake and use of sunlight) was in undesirable condition. Soit is suggested that effective strategies be taken to improve this situation.