Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is often overlooked in our daily lives, but it is especially important for the health of the elderly, so today we are going to discuss the importance of vitamin B12 for the elderly.
First of all, vitamin B12 has an important impact on cognitive ability, memory and mood in the elderly. Vitamin B12 helps the body synthesize neurotransmitters, which are important for maintaining our mood and cognitive function. At the same time, vitamin B12 is also involved in the production of red blood cells in the body, because a lack of vitamin B12 can lead to anemia, which can cause problems in the body's nervous system.
Secondly, vitamin B12 also plays a very important role in the vision of the elderly. It can participate in the repair of the human optic nerve, and the lack of vitamin B12 can cause problems with the human retina, leading to vision loss.
In addition to cognitive function, mood, and vision, vitamin B12 also has an important impact on the muscles of the elderly. As the elderly age, the strength of muscles will gradually decline, and vitamin B12 can help the body synthesize muscle, promote muscle regeneration and repair, so as to maintain muscle strength and function.
For older people, higher intake of vitamin B12 than younger people, especially for long-term vegetarian diets and malabsorption, may cause abnormal symptoms such as nervous system damage, mental depression, decreased sleep quality, and memory loss. In addition, the digestion and absorption capacity of the elderly is reduced, and it is even more important for them to consume enough vitamin B12.
So, how should older adults get enough vitamin B12?
The main sources of vitamin B12 are meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products and offal. For example, beef, lamb, pork liver, organ meat, eggs, soybeans, fish and other foods are rich in vitamin B12. Therefore, older adults should consume these foods in moderation.
However, many elderly people do not consume enough vitamin B12 due to long-term eating habits, lifestyle, chewing ability and other factors. Therefore, if the vitamin B12 level is low in the elderly, it can be supplemented with some nutritional supplements.
Finally, there are a few things that older adults need to pay attention to when supplementing with vitamin B12:
1.Choose nutritional supplements produced by regular manufacturers and avoid eating counterfeit and shoddy products.
2.When supplementing with vitamin B12, do not over-supplement to avoid causing unnecessary ***
3.When supplementing with vitamin B12, it is best to do it under the guidance of a doctor to avoid other health problems.
4.The absorption of vitamin B12 in the human body needs to be supplemented with other nutrients, such as vitamin B6, folic acid, etc., to improve the absorption effect.