How Vitamin D Deficiency Affects the Elderly

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How Vitamin D Deficiency Affects the Elderly

• Home Care Assistance of Greater Chicago

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• For the elderly, consuming a healthy diet is
  important to maintaining a strong body and
  increasing longevity. Many seniors can suffer
  from vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of
  exposure to sunlight and by avoiding certain
  foods. Without enough vitamin D, there are
  several effects that it can have on both the body
  and mind for those who are over the age of 50.

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Muscle Function and Fractures

• Those who suffer from vitamin D deficiency can
  also suffer from muscle function, which can
  easily lead to falls due to a lack of strength.
  Muscle weakness can mainly occur in the leg
  region, which can make it challenging to stand up
  after sitting or even walking up stairs.
  Fragility fractures are another problem due low
  vitamin D levels with bones that become weaker.
  Bones may begin to ache and the senior may be
  misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. When vitamin D is
  not present, the body can not absorb calcium.
  This will lead to brittle bones that are more
  susceptible to breaks or fractures.

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Metabolism Disorders

• Several studies have found that vitamin D
  deficiencies are also linked to metabolic
  disorders, which is known to increase the risk of
  metabolic syndrome by 52 percent. It is also
  associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD)
  and can make the condition worse. Vitamin D even
  regulates insulin secretion and balances the
  blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk
  of diabetes if there's a deficiency.

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Cognitive Decline

• Cognitive impairment is a common result of not
  obtaining enough vitamin D and can include memory
  lapses, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. The
  elderly who have low levels of the vitamin tend
  to become socially isolated and are no longer
  physically active or mobile. Cognitive decline
  can cause the individual to suffer from
  depression, which can further lead to their body
  and mind deteriorating at a faster rate.

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Dark Skin

• Although seniors who stay indoors and are not
  exposed to enough UV rays from the sunlight may
  be pale, their vitamin D deficiency can cause
  them to develop dark skin due pigmentation that
  is affected. Elders who live in northern
  latitudes are more at risk for suffering from a
  vitamin D deficiency and may have darker skin
  than normal.Although vitamin D deficiency is
  common among older adults, it can be treated by
  taking 50,000 units up to three times each week
  to normalize the levels. The Food and Nutrition
  Board of the National Academy of Sciences also
  recommends having vitamin D intake levels of 400
  IU. Many tests will need to be performed by a
  medical professional to diagnose an elder with
  vitamin D deficiency before treatment can be
  performed.

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