What age group is most at risk for vitamin D deficiency?

Older adults are at increased risk of developing vitamin D insufficiency, partly because the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D declines with age [1,60]. In addition, older adults are likely to spend more time than younger people indoors, and they might have inadequate dietary intakes of the vitamin [1].

Who is most affected by vitamin D deficiency?

Some people are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency:

• Breastfed infants, because human milk is a poor source of vitamin D.
• Older adults, because your skin doesn’t make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight as efficiently as when you were young, and your kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form.

Who is most susceptible to vitamin B deficiency?

2 Vitamin B Deficiencies. Vitamin B deficiencies are highly prevalent in many developing countries, especially where diets are low in animal products, fruit and vegetables, and where cereals are milled prior to consumption. Pregnant and lactating women, infants and children are most at risk of Vitamin B deficiencies.

Why are older people at risk for vitamin D deficiency?

Risk factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency in older adults include reduced nutritional intake of vitamin D, increasing adiposity, decreased cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D, and less time spent outdoors (Table 1) [22, 21].

Why does the recommendation of vitamin D increases with age?

Vitamin D intake increases with age because elderly people consume more multivitamins that contain vitamin D.

What causes vitamin D deficiency in males?

A deficiency in vitamin D can result from inadequate exposure to sunlight, inefficient production in the skin, not enough vitamin D in your diet, and health conditions that can affect it including, gastrointestinal disorders, renal diseases, and liver diseases.

Who is susceptible to B12 deficiency?

The importance of vitamin B12 nutritional status throughout the life cycle is increasingly recognized especially in two vulnerable populations, older adults and pregnant women.

Which age group is most likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 Intakes and Status For children aged 2–19, mean daily intakes of vitamin B12 from food range from 3.76 mcg to 4.55 mcg [31]. According to an analysis of NHANES data from 2015–2016, people of low socioeconomic status, women, and non-Hispanic Blacks are most likely to have low vitamin B12 intakes [32].

What are some reasons why older adults need more vitamin D?

Vitamin D helps our bodies to absorb calcium—downright essential for healthy bone mass and strength. Older adults with a deficiency are far more prone to falls, as well as other health problems like fatigue, joint pain, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.

Do we need more vitamin D as we age?

Older people need to have enough vitamin D in their diet to maintain their bone health and prevent damage to their bones or muscles when they fall. Not naturally found in many foods, the most common way your body produces vitamin D is by converting direct sunlight into an active form of the nutrient.

Why do older adults need more vitamin D than younger adults?

You Need More Calcium and Vitamin D Calcium helps build and maintain healthy bones, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium ( 19 ). Unfortunately, older adults tend to absorb less calcium from their diets.