Posts Tagged ‘Vitamin B12’
Vitamins Make Senior Brains Healthy
- Image by Prato9x via Flickr
Many supplements claim to increase the power of our brains, but they do not always provide the details. Seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health especially in regard to their brains need to know the details. Every year research has been providing additional data that vitamins perform a vital part in maintaining memory and brain function in mature adults which certainly includes seniors. For some time it has been known that the B vitamins and folate that are found in green leafy vegetables, legumes, and other foods have attracted special attention. For example a folate deficiency has been implicated in depression and various forms of dementia in seniors. Combined deficiency in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 appear to raise the level of homocysteine which may be linked to the development of AD. Elevated levels of homocysteine are certainly known to be a marker for decreasing cardiovascular health.
It turns out that one of nutrients that is very healthy for the heart, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, provides a key element for defending the brain against brain aging. The other elements that assist in defending the brain include the antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E. Seniors need to be aware that they need to consume some of the foods that provide the full spectrum of vitamin E such as nuts and avocado, because the vitamin E typically found in multivitamin supplements contains only one of the components, the alpha component, of vitamin E.
Seniors Need More Vitamin B-12
- Image via Wikipedia
Recent research has identified a serious vitamin B-12 deficiency among many seniors. The researchers estimated that as many as 40% of Americans have low levels of vitamin B-12. Making matters worse some of the drugs used to reduce stomach acid tend to increase the deficiency. In fact more than 20% of seniors over the age of 65 suffer from severe B-12 deficiency. Unfortunately the symptoms of B-12 deficiency may go undetected, because they are subtle. B-12 deficiency has been identified as a link to age-related dementia, cognitive impairment, and depression. Even mild B-12 deficiency may be a contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. Getting adequate B-12 in their diet is obviously a preemptive aging measure that will contribute to senior health.
On the positive side B-12 plays a critical role in breaking down homocystene that contributes heavily to the development of a number of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis. It turns out that B-12 works synergistically with folic acid to reduce high levels of homocystene. Getting absorption of adequate amounts of B-12 can be a problem for seniors, because of changes in the stomach linings of seniors. This absorption problem means that eating foods that contain B-12 such as meat, milk, and eggs will not help. Taking oral supplements of B-12 may not succeed either, because it is not adequately absorbed. Taking B-12 by injection has its own limitations. Two other approaches offer hope for achieving adequate absorption by seniors. B-12 can be taken sublingually or by one of the newer oral supplements.
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B Vitamins – How Many Benefits?
- Image by House Of Sims via Flickr
How come the B vitamins don’t get the press that C, D, and A do? Sure multivitamins list various B vitamins in their ingredients, but they don’t tell you what health benefits they bring to the senior health table. Fortunately some of the latest research on vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid (vitamin B9) has uncovered numerous health benefits that improve our health and the health of seniors in particular. Major benefits conferred by the B Trinity for seniors include contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, to the reduction of the risk of cancer, and to a lowered risk of osteoporosis. Complementary benefits of the B Trinity for seniors include contributing to improved mental ability, to decreased risk of developing macular degeneration, to boosted energy level, to elevated mood level, and to mitigating allergies. A final benefit that is like the frosting on senior’s health cake is the research that indicates that one member of the B Trinity improves longevity.
The B vitamins are particularly important for senior women, because they reduce the risk of breast cancer by 38% and other cancers by 25%. They lower homocysteine levels which keep women’s bones and hearts strong. The risk of age-related macular degeneration was reduced for senior women who took the B Trinity on a daily basis. The B Trinity definitely improves cardiovascular health for both senior men and women by lowering the level of homocysteine. As an added benefit it reduces the risk of stroke as well. For both senior women and men Vitamin B12 boosts energy, helps keep the brain from degrading, and improves longevity.
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