Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Warning Signs You Need More Vitamin D
- What types of vitamins are often insufficient, and what is the result of vitamin deficiencies in the elderly?
- 1. Vitamin D
- 2. Vitamin C
- 3. Vitamin B12
Medical Video: 10 Warning Signs You Need More Vitamin D
Elderly people are the group most vulnerable to malnutrition. Aging makes them experience various decreases in bodily functions that can affect appetite. In the end, this can cause eating disorders (such as anorexia) and malnutrition - including vitamin deficiencies - which reduce the quality of life for the elderly. Then, aWhat's the result of vitamin deficiency in the elderly? Here's the explanation.
What types of vitamins are often insufficient, and what is the result of vitamin deficiencies in the elderly?
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is useful for maintaining the health and strength of bones and teeth, increasing immunity of the body, to help absorptioncalcium and phosphorus in the body to be more effective.
The best source of vitamin D is morning sunshine. Our skin will convert special cholesterol into vitamin D once exposed to sunlight. However, the lifestyle of older people who are less active and who spend most of their time indoors can inhibit the mechanism. Moreover, the work of the skin in synthesizing vitamin D begins to decline once entering old age.
Decrease in appetite which makes the elderly rarely eat and smaller portions of food also play a role in causing the elderly to be vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency.
What is the result of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly?
As a result of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly are bones that are easily fragile and broken, aggravating osteoporosis, to dramatic decline in cognitive function. In old age, a decrease in cognitive function can increase the risk of dementia and depression by many times compared to the elderly who are able to adequately consume their vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D deficiency also increases the risk of older people experiencing heart failure, especially if they already have an underlying heart disease.
How to make enough?
Take time for the elderly to bask in the morning sun, for example by taking him for a walk around the house complex. Vitamin D intake can also be fulfilled with food sources of good vitamin D such as egg yolks, salmon, liver, butter, milk, shrimp, and yogurt. You can also provide vitamin D supplements.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has a myriad of benefits for the body. Starting from increasing immunity, increasing stamina to prevent you from fatigue, preventing anemia, to play a role in the formation of collagen to maintain healthy skin, bones, gums, and eyes. In addition, adequate intake of vitamin C can also prevent the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) because the vitamins typical of citrus fruits can increase the work of the body's metabolism to break down excess cholesterol.
Vitamin C is basically a vitamin that is easy to fulfill. But again, the elderly are susceptible to vitamin C deficiency because they are influenced by sedentary lifestyle factors as well as the decreasing time and portion of food.
What is the result of vitamin C deficiency in the elderly?
Lack of vitamin C can make the elderly easily bruised and make sores on the skin never heal after days. As a result of lack of vitamin C in the elderly also makes them susceptible to bleeding gums, canker sores, nosebleeds, hair loss, to dry and rough skin which is sometimes reddish.
If left unchecked, vitamin C deficiency in the elderly can be fatal. Reported from Healthline, a study reports that older people who lack vitamin C have a greater risk of stroke than older people who have high levels of vitamin C in the body.
How to make enough?
You can provide for vitamin C for the elderly just by providing enough vegetables and fruits every day (at least 5 servings per day). Some food sources of vitamin C are oranges, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, and broccoli. However, if you have a problem in meeting the needs of vitamin C, you can provide a 500 mg vitamin C supplement.
3. Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 has a role that is no less important than other vitamins. This vitamin helps cell metabolism to run normally, especially gastrointestinal cells, red blood cells, bone marrow, and nerve tissue.
What is the result of vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly?
Vitamin B12 works to regulate the growth and formation of red blood cells. Therefore, the most common deficiency of vitamin B12 is B12 deficiency anemia or folate deficiency anemia, characterized by 3L (Weak, Tired, Lethargy). Swollen and inflamed tongues can also be a symptom of lack of vitamin B12. Cracks in the corners of the mouth can also be a sign of lack of this vitamin.
Lack of vitamin B12 can also cause the elderly to experience nervous system problems, such as heat sensations, tingling, and / or numbness in the limbs, hands, or feet; walking and balance problems; paranoia; hallucinations; easy to get angry; to depression. In addition, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause senility in the elderly.
How to make enough?
You can easily find vitamin B12 in animal food sources, such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs and milk. You can also consume processed products such as vegetable bread and milk.If the elderly have difficulty eating, you can provide for their vitamin B12 with vitamin supplements.
Before using supplements to prevent the risk that might occur due to lack of vitamins in the elderly, talk first with the doctor who handles it.
