How Vitamin D Deficiency Affects the Elderly

1. How Vitamin D Deficiency Affects the Elderly Home Care Assistance of Greater Chicago

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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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