Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Over 30% of elderly people are at risk of developing deficiencies in vitamin B-12, due to the changes occurring in their digestive tract. Combined with the lack of other vitamins, lack of vitamin B-12 contributes to Alzheimer's disease. Early correction of this deficiency is important, and it will help the elderly people to continue with a normal life Giovannucci, 2005.
The correction of this deficiency can only be through prescribed vitamin supplements, as the cause of its deficiency was not because of an unbalanced diet.
Studies have reported that elderly people require more than the recommended dosage of vitamin E daily. This higher level will assist in boosting their immune system which is weakened as they age. By using prescribed vitamin dosages, the elderly people can increase their vitamin E daily intake thus improving their immune system.
Vitamin deficiency has also been associated with poor eye sight, defective teeth, infections, and dry skin. In elderly people, these diseases are heightened, and they are more prone. Poor eye sight might be caused by aging but having vitamin a deficiency increases the chances of developing this condition. An elderly person, who suffers from the conditions caused by lack of vitamin a in their body, is more likely to suffer more if they do not receive vitamin supplements. This is because elderly people are not able to replenish their vitamin levels as fast as may be required.
Conclusion
Taking too many vitamin supplements may have adverse effects on elderly people. Because...
Research has shown that the best vitamins are the ones found in foods and not in pills Enstrom & Pauling, 1982.
Though the pills are synthesized, the natural vitamins work much better than the pills. For elderly people, vitamin supplement pills offer the best alternative to acquiring vitamins from foods. This is because of their digestive systems changing thus making it hard for their bodies to absorb the vitamins. Recommending the elderly not to get prescription vitamins would make their bodies weak and more prone to diseases.
References
Beitz, R., Mensink, G.B.M., Hintzpeter, B., Fischer, B., & Erbersdobler, H.F. (2004). Do Users of Dietary Supplements Differ from Nonusers in Their Food Consumption? European Journal of Epidemiology, 19(4), 335-341.
Enstrom, J.E., & Pauling, L. (1982). Mortality among Health-Conscious Elderly Californians. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 79(19), 6023-6027.
Giovannucci, E. (2005). The Epidemiology of Vitamin D and Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Review (United States). Cancer Causes & Control, 16(2), 83-95.
MacLennan, W.J., & Hamilton, J.C. (1977). Vitamin D Supplements and 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Concentrations in the Elderly. The British Medical Journal, 2(6091), 859-861.
Leon Schurgrs and Cees Vermeer of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands hinted at the superiority of MK7. This is the ability to activate specific vitamin K proteins to bring calcium to the bones rather than the arteries. The recommended daily dosage at this time is 105 mc. Patients taking anticoagulant medications, such as Coumadin, should first consult with their doctors before taking in Vitamin K supplements. They
Vol. 4. 145-56. In this article, Drs. McCann and Ames of the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in Oakland, California, discuss their findings made in several important studies related to the suggestion that since "Vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States," it seems that the elderly and African-Americans are at a particularly high risk" of vitamin D deficiency (145). To support this suggestion, McCann and Ames explore three specific
Any weight loss, say doctors, is good weight loss. If there is some minor contribution the medication gives to the whole process, then that's positive. If taken strictly according to instructions, at worst, diet pills are harmless for the most part. Effects of Dietary Supplements The FDA regulates dietary supplements only in that it is required to ensure their safety. A manufacturer is not required to register a supplement or have
Nutrition and Pregnancy: Eating Right Helps the Developing Fetus This paper presents a detailed discussion about the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy. The writer includes an interview with a nutritionist as well as discussion about exercise and other health aspects of pregnancy. There were seven sources used to complete this paper. NUTRITION AND PREGNANCY: EATING RIGHT PROVIDES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPING FETUSES The medical community has been aware for many years
Anemia is defined as a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells in order for oxygen to be carried to tissues (Mayo Clinic, 2010). Red blood cells are shaped like discs and resemble doughnuts without holes in the middle (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2010). Red blood cells are manufactured in bone marrow, and their function is to carry oxygen throughout the body
(16) The drug has better coverage against Gram-positive cocci and atypical pathogens, and it is able to achieve excellent penetration into respiratory fluids and tissues. One particular adverse effect of the drug is that it may result in gastrointestinal disturbances, and thereby affect the individual's metabolism. (17) e) How does metabolism influence clearance, bioactivity and elimination? At times, the metabolism does tend to affect the absorption and the clearance of