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Vitamin D and the elderly

by Alyson Greenhalgh and Dr. Sara Kirk

question
My elderly relative is housebound. How can I make sure she gets enough vitamin D?

answer
Ask her to speak to her doctor about taking a vitamin D supplement. Those over 65 years of age should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily. This vitamin is found in fortified margarine, oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines, liver, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy produce such as milk, butter, yoghurt and cheese.

You can also get Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight (you should get at least 15 minutes a day), which is why housebound people may be deficient in this vitamin. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining a balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body, which are crucial for the healthy development of bones and teeth, and for maintaining normal blood clotting, cell growth, a stable nervous system and heart and muscle function.

In adults, a vitamin D deficiency can eventually lead to osteomalacia, a softening of the bones that causes deformity and fractures.

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