Learning About Vitamin D Deficiency in Seniors
Recognizing the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency can help you deal with it and prevent the problem from escalating.
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, ensuring that you have strong and healthy bones. It also enables you to fight diseases and ensures the proper functioning of the nervous system. However, our body’s ability to absorb nutrients, especially vitamin D, decreases with age. This may contribute to a variety of health issues such as hip fractures, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, muscle weakness, heart disease, and even cancer. Read on to learn how to deal with vitamin D deficiency.
Why Are Seniors More at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency?
The experts from our independent living facility have listed a few reasons why people over the age of fifty are at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
- Studies show that it takes around 30 minutes of exposure to sunlight twice a week for the human body to gain enough vitamin D. Older adults who have difficulty walking are less likely to get outdoor exercise.
- Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D, and as we age, we begin to lose the ability to make vitamin D from sunlight.
- The kidneys activate vitamin D so it can be absorbed by your body and this function deteriorates with age.
- Vitamin D doesn’t occur naturally in many foods.
Common Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
According to the specialists in our Hartford retirement community, the following are common signs of this deficiency:
- Weakness and fatigue
- Pain and swelling in joints
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Excessive sweating
- Difficulty focusing and concentrating
If you recognize any of these signs, it may be wise to consult your doctor. They may conduct a simple blood test to determine whether you have a deficiency of vitamin D.
How Much Vitamin D Do Seniors Need?
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), your body needs more vitamin D as you get older.
| Age Group (Men and Women) | Vitamin D Requirement (in International Units) |
| Below 50 years | Around 200 IU |
| 50 to 70 years | Daily intake of about 400 IU |
| Above 70 years | Around 600 IU |
| Around 800 - 1000 IU is recommended to reduce the likelihood of fractures in older adults. | |
Common Sources of Vitamin D
- Sunlight – Exposure to sunlight can help convert cholesterol in your body to vitamin D.
- Foods Rich in Vitamin D – Egg yolks, cheese, salmon, beef, tuna, and cod liver oil.
- Fortified Foods – Juices, milk, and cereals are commonly supplemented with vitamin D.
- Supplements – Oral supplements such as sprays and pills can help your body get the required amount of vitamin D.
The Holiday Retirement Community Offers Excellent Care for Seniors
Our Hartford retirement community, located in a convenient and safe area, is a place where you can feel happy, comfortable, and secure in your senior years. We have friendly and capable staff members to assist you and ensure that all you are taken care of, and provide meals and supplements to ensure you receive all of the vitamins and nutrients you need. We have senior apartments with a variety of amenities to make your life comfortable. We organize the following activities regularly:
- Games such as Bingo, UNO, and Trivia
- Exercise including yoga
- Movies and spa days
- Birthday celebrations and ice cream socials
- Celebrations for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and more
For more information about our independent living facility, be sure to call us on 860-337-6023. If you’d like to book a location tour, please fill out our online form.