Once upon a time, when the world was young and IV bottles were yellow, surgeons gave lots of vitamins; most postoperative patients received a daily cocktail of B-complex and C vitamins. A lot of internists, too-not just surgeons-ordered B and C vitamins routinely, on the grounds that the water-soluble vitamins weren't stored in the body and that they needed to be given every day. Today, surgeons no longer give vitamin supplementation routinely. But the question for today is, should they?

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Although total parenteral nutrition (TPN) provides necessary nutrients and calories to critically ill patients and lowers their risk of noninfectious complications, it has been shown to contribute to hyperglycemia.  Higher infection rates have been found in patients receiving TPN versus enteral nutrition; however, the serum glucose concentrations in the former group have been consistently higher, emphasizing the importance of glucose control for TPN patients.^12,13

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Medical Care of hospitalized elderly constitues a challenge to clinicians, due to numerous associated chronic disease, including protein-energy malnutrition (PEM).  The aim of the present study is to compare the serum levels of vitamins A and E, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and vitamin B₂ in elderly inpatients with or without PEM.

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