Vitamin and mineral supplements in the elderly

Although in small amounts, vitamins and minerals play a very important role in human life, especially for the elderly.

However, the body does not produce vitamins on its own and must be ingested from food. Moreover, vitamins cannot replace each other. Almost all of us are deficient in one or more types of vitamins. In particular, the elderly are more susceptible to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

The role of vitamins and minerals in the body

Most vitamins act as enzyme-activating complexes, participating in the process of transforming energy reserves in the body. Others affect the oxidation process, many have the effect of forming hormones, participating in the process of bone growth and mineralization, cell proliferation, participating in the body's immune process, synthesizing neurotransmitters, eliminating and neutralizing toxins, slowing down the aging process of the body.

For example, vitamin C is involved in vision and maintains the function of columnar epithelial cells. Vitamin C helps strengthen the body's immune system and strengthens blood vessels. Iron is present in every cell and is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, muscles, and regulating cell growth. Most iron is stored in hemoglobin and myoglobin, two red blood cell proteins that are responsible for transporting oxygen to the body's tissues and muscles.

Why are the elderly susceptible to vitamin and mineral deficiencies?

Almost all of us are deficient in one or more vitamins and minerals, especially the elderly are prone to many types of vitamins. Vitamin deficiency can be due to the following reasons: lack of food, poor food quality, improper preservation and processing. Due to soil and water quality in each area; diet, alcoholism, alcoholics often have severe B1 deficiency; absorption disorders, often seen in people with digestive diseases, the elderly, due to increased body demand but insufficient supply...

Fruit juices are fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Some diseases caused by lack of vitamins and minerals

Although vitamins and minerals only account for a very low percentage in the body, if they are lacking, they will cause disorders and diseases. For example, a lack of vitamin A causes night blindness, a lack of vitamin C will reduce resistance, causing subcutaneous bleeding, a lack of vitamin B1 causes edema, a lack of vitamin B12 causes anemia, neuritis; a lack of calcium causes convulsions in the limbs or a lack of potassium causes arrhythmia; a lack of iron causes anemia. Symptoms of iron deficiency include: weakness and fatigue, decreased ability to concentrate, hair loss, headache, weak nails, brittle nails...

What to do to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency in the elderly?

Vitamins and minerals are provided to the body through daily food and drinks. If the body is healthy, absorbs well and the meals are rich and varied, there is no fear of lacking these substances. Therefore, to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies, it is necessary to eat foods that contain enough vitamins and minerals necessary for the body such as eating a variety of vegetables, tubers, fruits, meat, fish, shrimp, crab... It is necessary to process soft, easy-to-digest foods such as soups or puree or squeeze them into smoothies.

However, most of the B and C vitamins are water-soluble, so although they are abundant in food, a lot of them will be lost during storage and processing. The body does not store these vitamins because they are water-soluble and are excreted in the urine. Vitamin B12 is an exception, stored in the liver. Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and transported with fat. The body stores these vitamins mainly in the liver and adipose tissue.

Therefore, when the body absorbs too much of these vitamins, poisoning will occur. For the elderly with prolonged serious illnesses, poor health..., vitamins and minerals should be supplemented in the form of medicine to meet the body's vitamin and mineral needs. However, which type of vitamin or mineral to supplement, how much to supplement and for how long... need to be examined and prescribed by a doctor. Remember that each type of vitamin cannot be replaced when lacking.

Many studies have been conducted on people with an average age of 48 - 78 years old. After 4 - 10 weeks of vitamin and mineral supplementation, there were significant improvements in health such as: reduced fatigue, better concentration, better appetite, easier sleep and longer sleep time...

According to Dr. Pham Minh Nguyet - Health & Life - NT