Why Vitamin D Deficiency Is a Hidden Risk for Seniors
Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. A deficiency prevents the body from properly absorbing calcium, a major component of bone. Adequate vitamin D intake can also protect against cancer and diabetes. A new study on the health effects of vitamin D found that excessive intake may lead to slower reaction times and an increased risk of falls in older adults.
Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. A deficiency prevents the body from properly absorbing calcium, a major component of bone. Adequate vitamin D intake can also protect against cancer and diabetes.
A new study on the health effects of vitamin D found that excessive intake may lead to slower reaction times and an increased risk of falls in older adults.
Older adults are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency due to several factors:
- Reduced sunlight exposure: As they age, they spend less time outdoors, resulting in less exposure to sunlight. Sunlight is a key source of vitamin D, and the skin synthesizes vitamin D under ultraviolet radiation. Insufficient sunlight exposure is one of the main causes of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly.
- Decreased absorption capacity: Elderly individuals may experience decreased gastrointestinal function, impairing their ability to absorb vitamin D from food. Furthermore, with aging, kidney function may also decline, impairing the conversion and utilization of vitamin D in the body.
- An unbalanced diet: Changes in taste, dental problems, or decreased digestion and absorption may lead elderly individuals to consume less vitamin D-rich foods (such as deep-sea fish, animal liver, and egg yolks), resulting in insufficient vitamin D intake. 4. Impact of Disease and Medication: Some chronic diseases and medications may affect vitamin D metabolism and utilization. For example, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction, and long-term use of certain medications may interfere with vitamin D absorption and conversion.
Mechanism of Action of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is not only a key nutrient that regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, but also plays a variety of roles in the nervous system through its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D).
Vitamin D protects neurons from damage by inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses, reducing excessive activation of microglia and astrocytes, and lowering levels of inflammatory factors (such as IL-6 and TNF-α).
In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, vitamin D can also reduce oxidative stress, scavenge free radicals, and protect neurons from oxidative damage. Vitamin D is also involved in the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, helping to maintain normal brain function. In terms of preventing dementia, vitamin D activates macrophages and microglia, promoting the clearance of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ), reducing its accumulation in brain tissue and slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Additionally, studies have found that vitamin D helps maintain cognitive function by regulating endothelial function, improving cerebral blood flow, and enhancing neuroplasticity and synaptic formation.
Therefore
Older adults should pay special attention to vitamin D supplementation. They should ensure adequate vitamin D levels through a balanced diet, increased outdoor activity, and, when necessary, taking vitamin D supplements. This helps maintain bone health, immune function, and the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
