In a series of studies [1–4], we have recently focussed find more on the mortality outcomes of the subset of community-living participants from the country-wide British National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of People Aged 65 Years and Over, for which the fieldwork was performed in 1994–1995 [5]. The primary objective of the present paper has been to explore the predictive significance of a selection of biochemical indices for nutrient and status indices that are bone-related, plus related lifestyle and risk indices, nearly all of which were measured as part of the original (baseline) population surveillance protocol (a

secondary objective was to identify potentially relevant cross-sectional relationships between indices at baseline, which might help explain some of the observed nutrient–mortality relationships). Certain nutrient status indices are known to be modified by, and hence to reflect, acute phase status and/or renal status, hence, potentially, to reflect mortality

risk (since chronic inflammatory states or impaired kidney function frequently underlie disease processes that lead ultimately to death) [6]. For instance, several recent studies [7–9] have reported an association between raised serum calcium and/or phosphorus concentrations and an increased Olaparib cell line risk of mortality, and have attributed this association to impaired kidney function or inflammation as being potentially the cause of both the abnormal serum mineral levels and the increased risk. For this reason, we included a biochemical index of acute phase status (α1-antichymotrypsin) in the study. Since, in a previous study of mortality predictors in this survey sample, self-reported physical activity, measured hand grip strength and smoking habit at baseline were all shown to be significant predictors of all-cause mortality [3], these three potential risk modulator indices were also studied, as possible effect modulators, in the present study. The well-established

Guanylate cyclase 2C links between bone health status and muscular strength and/or physical activity provided a further justification for the inclusion of self-reported physical activity and measured grip strength in the present study. A key question, which is pertinent in all of these mortality risk studies, is whether the observed links between baseline nutrient status and future mortality are likely to be driven by (potentially correctable) nutritional imbalances or by the more intractable and unalterable processes of ageing and chronic disease. Subjects and methods Subjects The NDNS 65+ years survey procedures have been described in detail elsewhere [5]; therefore, only a brief summary is given here.