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Taking Vitamin Supplement Can Prevent B-12 Deficiency | |
| By DR. MICHAEL L. FREEDMAN Associated Press NEW YORK - One good reason for older people to take a multivitamin supplement is prevention of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which can cause anemia, disability, depression and even dementia. Between 7 and 15 percent of people over age 65 suffer from a deficiency of vitamin B-12, which is found in animal protein products such as milk, eggs, cheese amd milk. Some older people don't get enough B-12 because they avoid these foods, which are rich in fat. Perhaps one older person in 100 has B-12 deficiency because he or she suffers from pernicious anemia. This condition means that one is lacking a stomach protein needed to absorb B-12 into the body. Usually this means that the person must take vitamin B-12 injections. But the major cause of B-12 deficiency in older people is lack of stomach acid, which splits B-12 from food. If this condition exists, one may be able to obtain B12 from a simple vitamin pill, taken on an empty stomach. A deficiency of vitamin B-12 leads to nerve damage, which can have ill effects that range from making walking difficult to brain damage. Studies have shown that more than 20 percent of older people who are diagnosed as having either Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia are vitamin B-12 deficient. It is thought that the deficiency either causes the dementia or makes it worse. So take those multivitamin supplements - and on an empty stomach to make sure the body absorbs enough B-12. Remember to tell your doctor you are taking a supplement. --- Older people and teen-agers have one thing in common: They're more likely to be involved in auto accidents than most Americans. Statistics show that teenagers have the highest auto accident rate, but people 65 and older come in second - and the accident risk rises steadily with age. The most common causes of accidents for older drivers are making improper left turns, difficulty making other turns at intersections, failing to yield the right-of-way and just plain lack of attention. To evaluate your driving skills, the American Association for Retired Persons says you should ask youself these questions: - Does driving make you nervous or physically tired? - Do other cars suddenly seem to appear from nowhere? - Does the glare of oncoming headlights at night blind you? - Do you have trouble seeing pedestrians, vehicles and signs? - Do you sometimes get lost in familiar neighborhoods? - Do other drivers often honk at you? - Have you had more accidents, near-accidents or driving violations in the past year or so? - Has your reaction time become slower? - Do you find it hard to judge the distance between cars? If the answer to most of those questions is yes, you can either take the appropriate defensive measures or let someone else do the driving. Defensive measures include staying off heavily trafficked roads, avoiding driving at night and in bad weather, allowing plenty of room between your car and the one in front of you, checking the mirrors often and having a passenger help with navigating on long trips. It's also advisable to remember that some drugs prescribed for older people, such as medications for high blood pressure, can make you less alert on the road. --- EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Michael L. Freedman is the Diane and Arthur Belfer Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Director of Geriatrics at New York University Medical Center. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |