Contents:
- Medical Video: Dangers of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Elderly people are prone to vitamin B12 deficiency
- What are the consequences if the elderly lack of vitamin B12?
- Vitamin B 12 deficiency makes the elderly vulnerable to heart disease
- Then, is there a way to meet vitamin B12 intake for the elderly?
Medical Video: Dangers of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Every human needs adequate vitamin intake at all ages. No exception for people who are elderly. Even so, among all types of vitamins available, the elderly need to pay more attention to their daily vitamin B12 needs. There are so many benefits of vitamin B12 for the elderly. Anything?
Elderly people are prone to vitamin B12 deficiency
After entering his old age, there were so many complaints that could arise. Starting from feeling weak to complaints that can cause a decrease in activity, such as senility to not recognize the conditions around it again.
That's why vitamin B 12 or what is often called mecobalamin is very important for the health of the elderly. But unfortunately, compiled from various researches, it turns out that as many as 30-40% of the elderly actually experience this vitamin deficiency
There are several factors that cause the elderly to experience vitamin B 12 deficiency, including:
- Lack of food intake rich in vitamin B12.
- Depreciation of the size of the stomach as you get older makes the body more difficult to absorb vitamin B12.
- Have pernicious anemia. This type of anemia is autoimmune.
- Frequently taking PPI drugs, H2 receptor antagonists and metformin.
Some complaints that arise when the body is deficient in vitamin B 12, including:
- Easy to feel tired and lethargic
- Appetite decreases
- Difficult to defecate
- Easy to feel numb and tingling
- Easy to forget
- Senile and difficult to concentrate
What are the consequences if the elderly lack of vitamin B12?
Research conducted by Eileen Moore, et al., Reported that a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the elderly can lead to accelerated senility that triggers neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Parkinson is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by complaints of tremors, stiff joints, and slowing movements. While Alzheimer's is one of the neurodegenerative diseases characterized by complaints easily forget, especially in things that have just been studied or happened. If the symptoms of Alzheimer's get worse, this condition can cause senile complaints until they are unable to recognize the time, place and people around them; to difficulty speaking, swallowing until walking.
Both of these diseases are commonly found in the elderly who have problems with daily vitamin B12. Elderly people who have difficulty absorbing vitamin B 12 or experiencing pernicious anemia also tend to experience vitamin B12 deficiency.
In addition, deficiency of vitamin B12 will cause chaos in the regulation of homocysteine production and cause high levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine is one form of amino acid, which when the amount accumulates too much in the body will cause damage to the nervous system.
The more severe deficiency of vitamin B 12 you have, the higher the level of homocysteine in your body.
Vitamin B 12 deficiency makes the elderly vulnerable to heart disease
Not only nervous disorders, lack of vitamin B 12 can also make you weak due to lack of blood. Because to form red blood cells, the body needs adequate vitamin B12 intake. But because you experience a lack of this vitamin, the body cannot produce healthy red blood cells. As a result, you will be prone to anemia.
In addition, high levels of homocysteine in the body due to vitamin B12 deficiency can also increase the risk of narrowing and blockage of blood vessels. This condition is called atherosclerosis, which is very dangerous for heart health and can be fatal.
Then, is there a way to meet vitamin B12 intake for the elderly?
The best intake of vitamins comes from healthy foods. Here is a list of healthy foods rich in vitamin B12 for the elderly:
- Shells
- Salmon
- Fortified breakfast cereal
- Milk and yogurt
- Egg
In addition, you should also try taking vitamin B 12 supplements to meet your body's needs. However, consult further with your doctor about the safe dosage and how to use it according to your condition.
