Should elderly people take vitamin supplements?

Along with the increase in age, the body's immune system is also weakened and susceptible to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep problems, insomnia... the aging of the digestive organs It is the cause of malabsorption of nutrients from food. Therefore, the issue of whether the elderly should take vitamin supplements or not is of great interest to many people. The following article will help you learn about vitamin supplements for the elderly.

The older you get, the more changes your body experiences such as reduced muscle mass, reduced stomach acid, drier and thinner skin. These changes affect the absorption of nutrients, such as decreased gastric acid secretion which reduces the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. Some studies by scientists also show that in the elderly, the absorption of vitamins through the intestinal membrane is reduced, the absorption and metabolism of vitamins are changed much.
The nutritional needs of each person are different depending on weight, height, muscle mass, activity level... Elderly people tend to be less active than young people, exercise. less and less muscle mass. Therefore, the elderly need less energy to function and maintain weight.
Although energy needs are less in the elderly, malabsorption due to aging of the digestive organs requires a higher level of supplemental nutrition in this age group. Therefore, in addition to a diet that ensures a full range of foods such as vegetables, fruits, meat and seafood alternately, vitamin supplementation for the elderly is necessary in some cases. Vitamins and nutrients play a very important role for the elderly such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, protein.

Almost all vitamins are important in the elderly, can include vitamins that are good for the elderly as follows:
Vitamin D: Especially the vitamin D2 group has an important role in helping strong bones and teeth. and prevent osteoporosis, anticonvulsants in the elderly. B vitamins: B vitamins, especially vitamins B1, B6 and B12 account for a large proportion. Vitamin B1 participates in the process of nerve conduction, reducing nerve pain symptoms and increasing glucose metabolism. Vitamin B6 plays a role in the metabolic processes of the nervous system. Vitamin B12 is involved in the production of red blood cells and nerve function of the body. Vitamin E: The antioxidant role of vitamin E is extremely important. This type of vitamin helps fight against oxidative processes in the body such as preventing organizational sclerosis, balancing hormones in women, helping to rejuvenate cells... Vitamin C : Participates in the strengthening process body's resistance. Especially for the elderly, vitamin C helps synthesize proteins and lipids, strengthens resistance to invading bacteria, and strengthens the body's immune system.

Protecting the health of the elderly by supplementing with vitamins is increasingly appreciated. Many studies show that people over the age of 60, despite being healthy, can still lack vitamins and minerals. The supplementation of vitamins for the elderly can be done through the diet or using functional foods and supplements for the elderly.
For elderly people whose ability to eat, absorb and digest is still good, vitamin supplements for the body should be done through daily nutrition. Supplementing vitamins through nutrition for the elderly should follow the principle of giving priority to foods rich in vitamins that the body is lacking. For example, vitamin A is abundant in animal viscera (liver, fish fat), carotene-containing vegetables and fruits (carrots, gac fruit, tomatoes, pumpkin); vitamin E is rich in eggs, onions, lettuce, bean sprouts...
Supplements for the elderly or vitamin functional food products are used in the elderly when the nutrition is not guaranteed balance or the ability to eat, absorb and digest is impaired.

Using supplements for the elderly or functional foods supplementing with good vitamins for the elderly should be done according to the following principles:
Only supplement when the nutrition is inadequate, the ability to eat Inadequate nutritional intake and absorption with symptoms such as anorexia, weakness... Vitamin supplements suitable for age and body weight with reasonable use time. Do not arbitrarily use any supplements or dietary supplements without a doctor's prescription. Because the unreasonable and arbitrary vitamin supplementation can cause interactions with foods or drugs being used. For example, aspirin, warfarin, ginseng (ginseng) and vitamin E all have anticoagulant effects, so taking them together increases the risk of stomach bleeding. Thus, in the elderly, the need for nutrients is more than in the younger stages. Therefore, vitamin supplementation for the elderly is extremely necessary and can be done through nutrition as well as supplements, vitamin supplements.