[Food supplements--potential and limits: part 3].
Ageing processes are associated with physiological changes, e.g. a reduction of metabolically active body mass and an impaired hunger-satiety regulation, which--combined with chronic diseases and psychosocial problems--significantly increase the risk for malnutrition. However, considering their nutrition and health status elderly people are a very heterogeneous group. The nutrition situation of "young" seniors does generally not differ from the situation of working-age adults while institutionalized elderly people and those in need of care often show signs of a global malnutrition. The critical nutrients in the nutrition of the elderly particularly include vitamin B12 and D. Six percent of all elderly have a manifest and 10 to 30% a functional vitamin B12 deficiency. The main cause is vitamin B12 malabsorption resulting from a type B atrophic gastritis. The functional vitamin B12 deficiency and the associated hyperhomocysteinemia are risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases and accelerate bone loss. With increasing age the vitamin D status is deteriorating. About 50% of the elderly living in private households is deficient in vitamin D; in geriatrics vitamin D deficiency is more the rule than an exception. This is caused by a reduced endogenous biosynthesis, low UVB exposure and a diet low in vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency increases the risk for falls and fractures as well as the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Also the overall mortality is increased.
Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Lebensmittelwissenschaft und Humanernährung, Am Kleinen Felde 30, 30167 Hannover. stroehle@nutrition.uni-hannover.de
Alexander
A
Ströhle
Maike
M
Wolters
Andreas
A
Hahn
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040241:Social Marketing; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control