Aging adults often experience vitamin deficiency as getting adequate nutrition can become a challenge. As a person grows old, the number of calorie intake begins to decline. Moreover, as we get old, the body becomes less efficient at absorbing nutrients.

Not having enough vitamins in the diet can cause ill effects on the body. It can cause vitamin deficiency anemia. It is a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough vitamins that are required by the body to produce red blood cells. This condition is often caused by eating food that lacks vitamins.

Some common symptoms that you are suffering from a vitamin deficiency include:

  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness in feet and hands
  • Unsteady movements
  • Mental confusion

Let’s discuss the three most common Vitamins that are often missing from the senior’s diet.

Vitamin C

People often say, “Hey you can get Vitamin C from citrus fruits. You should eat more of them.” Yet a majority of the population is deficient in Vitamin C. Moreover, if you smoke regularly, it reduces your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, further depriving your body of the essential vitamin.

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to bleeding gums, scurvy, and can also lead to a slow recovery of bruises. Make sure to include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet to get your daily dose of Vitamin C.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is often found in eggs, milk, and meat. If you are a vegan, there are high chances that you may be suffering from the deficiency of this vitamin. Moreover, if you are facing problems with the small intestine or if you suffer from Crohn’s disease, you can face Vitamin B12 deficiency.

You can also be deficient in this vitamin if you eat a lot of seafood. Fish can sometimes be contaminated with tapeworm which can cause Vitamin B12 deficiency.

However, the most common cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency is the lack of intrinsic factor. This is a protein which is meant to escort B12 through small intestine for absorption. With this intrinsic factor, the vitamin leaves the body as waste.

Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 also called Folate is often a rarity in our everyday diet. Vitamin B9 deficiency can contribute to anemia. Vitamin B9 deficiency can also increase the risk of a pregnant woman having a baby with a neural tube defect.

Folate is often found in fruits and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, beets, arugula, and more.

One of the reasons why Vitamin B9 does not get absorbed in the body is because of coeliac disease. Moreover, if you are taking anti-seizure medications, there are chances your body is not able to absorb as much folate as it should.

As most aging adults do not eat a healthy and well-balanced diet, the risk of mild vitamin deficiency is high among them. While single deficiencies do occur, it is often multiple vitamin deficiencies that increase the risk of irreversible organ damage.

While vitamin deficiencies may seem like a small problem, but the magnitude of the problem vary from patient to patient. You can easily get your tests done in the comfort of your home. Call (385) 247-0050 to learn more.