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As we age, our bodies don’t assimilate vitamins and minerals as well as they once did. Many older Americans also suffer chronic disorders and digestive problems that lead to malabsorption. This makes nutritional supplements all the more important.

Are you Deficient?
One study of senior citizens finds that 90 percent have inadequate levels of vitamin A, B vitamins, C, calcium, and iron. Others are deficient in vitamin D, which can lead to weakened bones, or vitamin B12, which causes neurological problems. Symptoms of B12 deficits include lack of balance and coordination, memory loss, mood changes, and disorientation that can be misinterpreted as signs of senility. Anyone over 60 years of age can benefit from supplemental B12. One of the best sources is brewer’s yeast.

Severe vitamin D deficiency, which can cause rickets in children, may lead to a similar condition called osteomalacia in adults. Loss of appetite, diarrhea, insomnia, problems with vision, and weight loss may signal less severe deficiency. The elderly are especially at risk since they may be confined and not get exposure to sunlight in order for the skin to synthesize vitamin D. People in the northern one-third of the US are also at risk for low levels of D because of limited sunlight during the winter months.

Folate, another B vitamin, protects against homocysteine, which damages DNA and has been implicated in heart disease. To protect against homocysteine, experts recommend taking folate along with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Because high levels of supplemental B6 can lead to numbness in the fingers and toes, therapeutic use of vitamins (beyond what’s found in most multivitamin formulas) requires professional supervision from a healthcare provider trained in nutrition for seniors.