Do we have to worry about vitamin deficiencies in older people?
In June this year in the Journal of Nutrition, was published an article curious. Under the name: ” 100 years of Vitamins: adequate intake in the elderly is still a matter of concern “, various Swiss researchers, led by Barbara Troesch arose if they really have relevance vitamin deficiencies in the elderly. And the truth is not arrived at any conclusion outright.
A growing population
Just look at the age pyramids of the various populations of the planet to time, especially in the West, people are growing, living longer. This implies an increase in the elderly, leading to a series of connotations specific to this age group. Especially in regards to the most prevalent diseases, how to prevent them, and how we address them.
It is anticipated that, over the years, increase the specific gravity of a medical specialty: Geriatrics. Already, in fact, among health care we exercise, we see it as the specialty of the future (and most of this).
The lack of vitamins causes certain diseases
You know it is so. And we know also that the group of older people are particularly susceptible to these deficits. And not just the elderly “patients” also is relevant vitamin deficiency in healthy elderly groups.
The importance of vitamin B12 and folic acid
Among all possible vitamin deficiencies we find in this age group, we care doctors, especially by the lack of two fundamental elements: Vitamin B12, and folic acid. Both can cause cognitive impairment, dementia similar to other origin (Alzheimer’s, for example). But in this case, the supplement of vitamin B12 or folic acid (usually in the form of tablets or injections) can reverse the symptoms of this “insanity”, unlike what happens with the group of so-called primary dementia ( Alzheimer’s disease , for example).
Of the other vitamins, the deficit is very strange. In some cases, because the body produces in others, because the food we eat are usually more than enough of these vitamins.
A particular case: Vitamin D
Very involved in bone formation and remodeling, the main reason that an elderly person may suffer from vitamin D deficiency is because they take very little sun. Certainly for activated vitamin D, and vitamin D3 become the skin of the person is to receive the ultraviolet rays from the sun. That is why very dependent elderly, barely leave home, are especially likely to have a deficiency of this vitamin in particular.
The vitamin supplements, the best solution in this age group
The researchers referred to above, given the above in this article, proposed, as a palliative measure to reduce vitamin deficiency in the elderly, the contribution by multivitamins (pharmaceutical preparations). In fact, advocates of this form of contribution since, as they themselves indicated in the study, the differences between what the body needs, and what arrives via diet, is increasing. And in the elderly, if the contribution is not potentiated by other means, the diet is totally inadequate showed to achieve the objective.
