As the elderly age, their various functions will gradually decline, and their demand for various nutrients will increase, while their digestion and absorption capacity and nutrient storage capacity will decrease. This makes elderly people more likely to experience vitamin deficiency and face various health hazards caused by it

As the elderly age, their various functions will gradually decline, and their demand for various nutrients will increase, while their digestion and absorption capacity and nutrient storage capacity will decrease. This makes elderly people more likely to experience vitamin deficiency and face various health hazards caused by it.

So in this article, Teacher Yuanyuan (Yuanyuan's pocket), I will talk in detail about the lack of vitamins in the elderly.

1 Lack of vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can seriously affect the skeletal health of elderly people, leading to a series of bone related diseases and problems. Vitamin D is important for bones as it assists in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, contributes to bone formation and bone strength. As people age, their time away from home decreases, and their skin gradually loses its ability to synthesize vitamin D, making it very easy for the elderly to experience vitamin D deficiency.

Long term vitamin D deficiency can lead to a decrease in the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, which can lead to osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and Parkinson's disease, while also greatly increasing the risk of fractures. Severe vitamin D deficiency may also lead to rickets, which can cause skeletal deformities and abnormal body posture. Therefore, vitamin D supplements and appropriate outdoor activities are crucial for preventing these skeletal diseases.

Elderly people should supplement 600 to 800 international units of vitamin D every day. You can choose vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 supplements, which are more easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. At the same time, elderly people should also increase moderate outdoor activities, spending 15-20 minutes in the sun every day. This helps the skin synthesize vitamin D, improves heart and muscle activity, and is greatly beneficial to overall health.

2 Lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid

The deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid can seriously damage the health of the nervous and hematopoietic systems in elderly people. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are crucial for the production of neurons, red blood cells, and DNA synthesis. Long term deficiency can lead to neurological disorders, anemia, and decreased cognitive function. Especially the deficiency of vitamin B12 can damage the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, causing numbness, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, disability.

Wen/Yuan's Small Pocket

Therefore, elderly people should regularly check the concentration of vitamin B12 and folic acid in their blood. If vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency are detected, they should be supplemented in a timely manner to prevent the occurrence of neurological and hematopoietic system diseases. The daily requirement for vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms, which can be taken orally as a vitamin B12 supplement or given intramuscular injections once a month. The daily requirement for folic acid is 400 micrograms, which can be supplemented by oral folic acid tablets or liquid formulations.

3 Lack of vitamin C

Lack of vitamin C can seriously damage the immune function and skin health of elderly people. Vitamin C is crucial for the growth and development of immune cells and the generation of skin collagen. Lack of vitamin C can easily lead to frequent illness and severe infections, as well as aging symptoms such as dry skin, wrinkles, and skin tearing and bleeding. Vitamin C also has antioxidant effects, which can prevent cell damage and the occurrence of some elderly diseases.

Elderly people should supplement 75 to 90 milligrams of vitamin C daily, and it is best to choose vitamin C supplements with high absorption in the human body, such as calcium ascorbate tablets or liquids. At the same time, daily intake of vegetables and fruits should also be ensured.

4 Lack of vitamin E

Lack of vitamin E can also harm the health of elderly people.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant vitamin that can eliminate peroxides and free radicals in the body, protecting cell membranes and fats from oxidative damage. Lack of vitamin E can accelerate the body's oxidative stress response, leading to faster physical exhaustion and aging.

Vitamin E deficiency is also associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mild cognitive impairment, and some forms of cancer. Therefore, moderate supplementation of vitamin E can effectively prevent these diseases, delay the aging process, and improve the quality of life of the elderly. Elderly people should supplement 15 milligrams of vitamin E every day, and natural vitamin E supplements can be chosen, such as - Tocopherol.

In addition to vitamin D, B12, folic acid, C, and E, the deficiency of other vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and iron can also cause harm to elderly people. Vitamin A is important for vision and immune function, and deficiency can lead to night blindness and frequent infections. Vitamin B group is involved in energy generation and neurological function, and deficiency can lead to fatigue, decreased memory, and neurasthenia. Iron is a necessary element for red blood cell production, and its deficiency can lead to anemia and a decrease in the body's oxygen transport function.

In summary, the long-term lack of various vitamins in the elderly can increase the risk of various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and accelerate the aging process of the body. Therefore, elderly people should ensure daily intake of various vitamins through a nutritious diet, especially by supplementing key vitamins D, B12, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E. At the same time, regular physical examinations are conducted to monitor the levels of various vitamins in the blood, and appropriate vitamin supplements are taken with the advice of doctors. These measures can prevent vitamin deficiency and are key to ensuring the health of the elderly.

reference

1. Vitamin D and elderly health: latest research progress. Chinese General Medicine, Volume 19, Issue 34, 2016.

2. The relationship between folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency and cognitive impairment and depression in elderly people. Chinese Journal of Nutrition, Volume 38, Issue 9, 2016.

3. Vitamin supplementation and elderly health. Chinese Journal of Gerontology, Volume 36, Issue 6, 2016.

4.Anemiaintheelderly:aconsequenceofaging? TransfusionMedicineReviews2017Apr; 31(2):105-110.

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