NUTRIENT NEEDED DURING AGING

Elderly person are prone to malnutrition for several reasons. They are more likely to eat alone and so take less interest in means preparation; and they more often disable and immobile, thus they less likely to properly. More then 30% of home bound order individuals may have difficulty in preparing their own the laxatives and medications for long periods.
Furthermore, many elderly persons have periodontal disease and poor teeth. Their senses of smell, taste and sight decline, making eating less appealing and stomach acid production gradually drops, decreasing nutrient uptake even with an adequate diet. Evidence indicates that superior nutrient may prevent unnecessary illness and disability from shortening productive life.
Relatively little is known regarding specific nutritional needs of people over the years of 65, although more research is being done in this area. Attention has focused on three classes of nutrients as being especially important in aging; minerals, vitamins and antioxidant.
(1) Minerals;
Diminishing digestion and absorption can lead to deficiencies of magnesium iron, zinc, copper, and calcium RDA of 800mg because the ability of the intestine to absorb adequate calcium declines progressively with aging.

The common experience is that the bodies of elderly women and men remove calcium from the bones to meet their calcium needs.
Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D, or calcium with low-dose estrogen for post-menopausal women seems to be more effective in showing bone losses than supplementation with calcium alone.
(2)Vitamins;
There are indications of increased vitamin needs elderly people. Many elderly people obtain less than 50% of the RDA of vitamin B6.Medications, such as penicillin, estrogens and antihypertensive drugs, interfere with this vitamin.
Folic acid and vitamin B12 are less well absorbed in elderly persons and the RDAs should be higher. Inadequate diet and the decreased update of fat-soluble probably account for the increased need for vitamin A and vitamin E with aging, and extra vitamin E may boost immunity, thus helping elderly persons resist diseases. Vitamin D deficiency may increase during aging because the skin gradually losses it’s ability to manufacture the vitamin, Patients with hip fracture may be deficient in need for vitamin D. Joint Advance is a complete supplement you may want to check out.
Another problematic nutrient for elderly people is vitamin C, a versatile antioxidant. Consumption may be low with the foods we eat or diet, we relying on processed, either over-processed or under processed and some times such cooked foods are lacking adequate fruits vegetables. Vitamin C may protect our body against cataracts
And atherosclerosis.
Several nutrients may seem to protect the body through out life against any kinds of damage by free radicals, highly reactive forms of oxygen that can attack cells in our body systems. The trace minerals like copper, selenium and zinc, as well as vitamin C and E plus beta carotene, which functions as anti-oxidants. Together with vitamin A they also help keep our body immune system to be balanced. The immune system helps to protect the body against any kind of bacterial and viral diseases and also defends our body system from cancer. The anti- oxidants may strengthen the body’s defenses and protect against cancer.
Best regards,
Jacob makpah.