HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE ELDERLY

HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE ELDERLY

 

      The growing numbers of adults all around the world especially in China, Japan, USA, Europe and UK in which 16% of people’s age is 65 and above and it is expected to rise up to 23% by 2031, and through which 10% of this people is expected to be of age 75 and above.  The challenge is maintaining the health of the elderly. One of the major needs of the elderly especially among women is that they also need physical exercise to preserve muscle tissues they also need good sources of food to help promote physical and mental health.  Particularly one good source of vitamin that is also good for all ages, for children and the elderly is a good source of vitamin D. This situation proves that vitamin D is also a global health concern especially for the elderly who have different kind of diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer.     

      Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can be found in few sources of food such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. It can also be found in egg yolk, liver and cheese. Sunlight can also be a good source of vitamin D when it hit the skin during the early morning but it required a biological process for activation, sunlight in late morning and afternoon may not be a good source of vitamin D because it may contain so much heat that can burn the skin. People who are always exposed to sunlight in early morning may found sufficiency in vitamin D because it is almost a complete source of vitamin D but since people may not always have the time to be exposed in sunlight especially from cold places like in North Pole or Alaska they need alternative sources of food to encourage the supplemental intake sources of vitamin D.

      Vitamin D helps the body to retain and absorb calcium and phosphorous needed by our body particularly the infants to strengthen their bone, muscles and tissues and the elderly people to build their bone that can be the cause of most fracture from the elderly who have arthritis and rheumatism. Study shows that the high intake of vitamin D per day of about 800 IU can reduce hip and non spine fracture by 20% and up while low intake of less than 400 IU may cause low tolerance of fracture for the elderly. The adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium rich food can help nourish the rate of bone loss due to aging that can start at the early age of 30 and above. Vitamin D can also help increase the strength of muscles for the elderly, lack of it may become the reasons of most falls, collapse and stress while studies shows that intake of 700 IU to 1000 IU per day increases muscle strength and eliminates fall and fatigue.  

      Food such as oily fish and cereals may contain the needed vitamin D. Vitamin D supplement in tablet or capsule can also be a good source of vitamin D but it should also be taken as recommended by doctors. Medical experts suggest that elderly people needs vitamin D; for male and female ages 71 and up needs adequate sources while male and female age 51 to 70 needs at least 400 to 600 IU (10 to15 mcg) recommended dietary allowance (RDA) although this needs may change depending on the conditions of the elderly if they have different diseases. Vitamin D is also good for the heart. A study shows that people who are low in vitamin D are likely to suffer from heart diseases such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke and cardiac especially among men. Vitamin D proves to be beneficial to control blood pressure to prevent artery damages although this finding still needs more evidence in its additional benefits.       

      The usefulness and impact of vitamin D is continuously being studied throughout the world and soon it can also be good sources for treating many diseases. Here are list of additional benefits of vitamin D for the elderly; (Researches and findings is still under study as of 2011, Harvard School of Public Health)

·         Vitamin D can also be help to eliminate certain types of cancer such as colorectal cancer although this does not necessarily mean that it can lower down the disease it can highly maintain good conditions especially among the elderly.  

·         Vitamin D can also reduce mortality rate and risk of premature death.

·         Vitamin D can also help to regulate the immune system.

·         Vitamin D is also linked to help supplement the needs of the people who suffered from tuberculosis of different age group.

      In conclusion, people from all ages especially among the elderly age of 60 and up who are likely to suffer from different kind of diseases such as high blood, diabetes, cancer and other diseases need to take vitamin D which is abundant and inexpensively available in sunlight and alternatively from food of different sources such as milk, cheese, cereals, oily fish, fruits, beef and liver. These foods are highly recommended for general health to supplement the body from the resistance and lack of D- ficiency.     

References:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/nutrition/life_olderadults.shtml

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vitamin-d/  

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php

http://www.algaecal.com/vitamin-d/vitamin-d-sources.html