{"id":5146,"date":"2021-09-05T05:31:47","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T05:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/?p=5146"},"modified":"2022-10-20T08:32:40","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T08:32:40","slug":"most-common-nutrient-deficiencies-in-older-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/most-common-nutrient-deficiencies-in-older-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Older Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"
Intake of necessary nutrition is essential for individuals of all ages but it becomes critical as an individual reaches old age. Good nutrition crucially impacts all aspects of life, including physical, mental, and social health. As men and women age, their activity levels decrease, leading to a decrease in appetite. This low caloric intake often becomes one of the key factors in creating deficient levels of vitamins and minerals. The dietary deficiencies are also compounded by the presence of age-related chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.<\/a><\/p>\n Why Do Seniors Lose Their Appetite?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sudden loss of appetite and diminishing weight are not normal for anyone, irrespective of age. Why seniors experience such symptoms requires immediate medical evaluation to ascertain the reason. Loss of appetite can occur due to the following:<\/p>\n Work with your loved one's doctor instead of turning to a supplement immediately, and see if the underlying issues improve.<\/p>\n There are many causes that lead to dietary nutrient deficiency in older adults all over the world with degree of deficiencies varying from person to person. Some key causes of deficiencies are:<\/p>\n As older adults are faced with physical, physiological and cognitive changes, poor dietary habits can result in the progression of chronic diseases like type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and malnutrition<\/a>. The lack of required nutrition<\/a> in the body can lead to a decline in the general quality of life that relates to decreased physical function and cognitive decline. Other physical loss includes a decrease in bone density that increases the risk of osteoporosis. Loss of muscle mass, and malnutrition are issues related to older age which result in loss of strength, endurance and resistance to diseases.<\/p>\n Thus, the adoption of nutrient-rich foods can be a measure to tackle the situation of nutritional deficiencies and promote a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n The table below shares some common signs of nutritional deficiencies<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nutritional Deficiencies in Senior Adults<\/strong><\/p>\n Aging brings on lesser physical activity and caloric intake. Nutrition deficiency<\/strong> becomes common as fewer essential minerals and vitamins get absorbed. The prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in seniors also occurs due to the following:<\/p>\n How important are vitamins and minerals for maintaining good health?<\/strong><\/p>\n As people enter their sixties and seventies, they are bound to feel weak due to nutritional deficiencies. Some of the most common deficiencies that seniors may have are:<\/p>\n Calcium<\/strong><\/p>\n Leafy greens like kale and spinach, dairy products, and calcium supplements are important for bone density and strength. Calcium deficiency in the elderly<\/strong> can lead to poor bone density, reduced mobility, and increased risk of falls.<\/p>\n Vitamin D<\/strong><\/p>\n Vitamin D promotes bone strength and health when combined with calcium. The body naturally absorbs vitamin D from sunlight, but it is also found in fish like salmon,fortified milk and orange juice. Vitamin D deficiency is among the most common vitamin deficiencies<\/strong> as people age due to decreased mobility.<\/p>\n Magnesium<\/strong><\/p>\n Magnesium deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies<\/strong>.Foods rich in magnesium include whole grains, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and nuts. This mineral is essential for regulating glucose levels and blood pressure in the body.<\/p>\n Vitamin C<\/strong><\/p>\n Vitamin C is essential for protein absorption and connective tissue creation for healing wounds. Citrus fruits, amla, tomatoes, and bell peppers contain Vitamin C.<\/p>\n Vitamin E<\/strong><\/p>\n Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that boosts the immune system and prevent diseases caused by free radicals. Vitamin E is predominantly found in seeds, vegetable oils, and nuts.<\/p>\n Vitamin B6<\/strong><\/p>\n B vitamins are required to support cognitive functioning and protein absorption. To improve Vitamin B levels, you can have potatoes, fish, sweet potatoes, and other starchy vegetables.<\/p>\n As we age, it is better to reduce the intake of oils, salts, etc., and eat more fruits and vegetables instead. As recommended by doctors, aging adults should consider taking specific food supplements to help vitamin intake.<\/p>\n Dietary supplements for the elderly<\/strong><\/p>\n Elderly people may be unable to eat healthy, nutritious food for many reasons. However, help comes from dietary supplements to replenish the body with the missing nutrients.<\/p>\n Dietary supplements are not food, so you must be very cautious. Here\u2019s what you should do before buying dietary supplements:<\/p>\n Is it safe to take dietary supplements?<\/strong><\/p>\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks and regulates prescription medicines, like antibiotics, blood pressure drugs, and over-the-counter drugs for cough, cold, and pain, to ensure they are safe and do what they promise. Dietary supplements, however, are not regulated by the FDA; they do not need approval from the FDA for safety or efficacy before being sold.<\/p>\n Quality Supplements: How To Choose Them<\/strong><\/p>\n Very often, the ingredients that go into supplements can interact with certain medications and adversely impact the senior person\u2019s health. Therefore, it is imperative to seek professional guidance before using any supplement. You should also follow the directions to the T.<\/p>\n Be careful not to fall for attractive packaging and false statements. Make sure you buy only reputable brands that use high-quality ingredients. Also, avoid supplements containing additives, fillers, and artificial ingredients. Ensure the product has been tested for safety and quality by a third party.<\/p>\n Also Read This:\u00a0 Tips for Better Self-Care to Combat the Pandemic Fatigue<\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For more information or to partner with us<\/a> on any REAN Foundation initiatives, please watch the entire video series here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To learn more about REAN Foundation's unique healthcare platforms, download the REAN Health Guru App<\/a> or visit https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Intake of necessary nutrition is essential for individuals of all ages but it becomes critical as an individual reaches old age. Good nutrition crucially impacts all aspects of life, including physical, mental, and social health. As men and women age, their activity levels decrease, leading to a decrease in appetite. This low caloric intake often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6479,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8],"tags":[84,85,68,67],"series":[],"coauthors":[26],"class_list":["post-5146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-management","category-health-hygiene","tag-lossofmusclemass","tag-nutrientdeficiencyinolderadults","tag-reanfoundation","tag-reanhealthguruapp"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/most-commom-nutrient-defencies-in-olderAdult-blog-image.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.reanfoundation.org\/feed\/podcast\/rean-foundation-empower-yourself-to-manage-your-health","embedCode":"\n
What are the main causes of nutrient deficiencies in seniors?<\/h2>\n
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Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Older Adults<\/a><\/blockquote>