Signs of Vitamin Deficiency in Seniors

Signs of Vitamin Deficiency: Seniors need to be sure they’re getting their vitamins

Most of us know how important it is to take vitamins in order to maintain our health. But as we age, ensuring we get our daily vitamin allowance becomes even more critical and challenging. Mild vitamin deficiencies are common among seniors, and particularly so among the frail and institutionalized elderly. This is because many seniors don’t eat a well-balanced diet each day, but can also be due to the body’s natural decrease in vitamin absorption ability and medications taken.

Vitamin D deficiency is particularly common among seniors. Older people are prone to develop vitamin D deficiency because of various risk factors: decreased dietary intake, diminished sunlight exposure, reduced skin thickness, impaired intestinal absorption, and impaired hydroxylation in the liver and kidneys. This deficiency is associated with muscle weakness and is manifested by a feeling of heaviness in the legs, tiring easily, and difficulty in mounting stairs and rising from a chair. Vitamin D and B12 deficiency are most common for seniors, others are shown below.

 

Signs of Vitamin Deficiency

 

Deficient Vitamin	Signs and Symptoms
Vitamin A	Impaired dark adaptation of the eyes, which can lead to night blindness, drying and thickening of the skin, dry hair, broken nails, goose bumps on skin, dry eyes/no tears, respiratory infections, impaired immunity system
Folic Acid (folate)	Megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, diarrhea, fatigue, increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, possibly cancer
B-12	Pernicious anemia, glossitis, spinal cord degeneration, Peripheral neuropathy (tingling or numbness in the hands and feet), weakness, loss of balance, personality changes, mental confusion or dementia if deficiency is severe
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	Impaired wound healing, bleeding, ecchymosis, swollen gums, anemia, enlargement and keratosis of hair follicles, lethargy, depression
Vitamin D	Osteomalacia, muscle weakness, increased risk of fracture
Vitamin E	Rare but signs include chronic diarrhea, greasy stools, inability to secrete bile
Vitamin K	Bleeding, hematoma, ecchymosis

 

Visit this site for a more complete list.

 

If you think you may be suffering from a vitamin deficiency, increase your intake of foods that contain the particular vitamin you feel you’re not getting enough of. But note that while single vitamin deficiencies do occur, usually multiple vitamin deficiencies are seen with general malnutrition. So you’ll want to make sure you eat a well-balance diet that consists of a variety of vitamins and minerals. You’ll also want to schedule an appointment with your physician and mention your symptoms.

 

Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families. Call our Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) or visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to begin searching for the perfect home for you or your loved ones. Also, be sure to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.

 

BLOG Date:  Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen