There is much debate regarding the need for consumers to take vitamin and/or min

Question

There is much debate regarding the need for consumers to take vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Present an argument for why you think a client (female who is 60 y/o and has no medical history, has no current medical problems, and takes no medications) SHOULD or SHOULD NOT consume vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent disease.

Answer the following questions to frame your answer:

Other than the medical history listed above, what additional types of information would you gather about this client to determine her need for a supplement?

Explanation / Answer

**At least half of adults age 60 and above take daily vitamins and other supplements, but only a fraction actually need them,

**The majority of older adults, can improve their diet to get needed nutrients.

**"A lot of money is wasted in providing unnecessary supplements to millions of people who don't need them,

**it is a widely held belief that the older people get, the more vitamins and mineral supplements they need.

**The scientific backup for that doesn’t exist,"We know too little to suggest there is a greater need in the elderly for most of these vitamins and minerals."

"A supplement does not cure the aging process,".

**And in some cases, supplements may do harm,

** Expense is another factor.

**an industry group representing dietary supplement makers, agrees that starting with a good diet is the best way to get needed nutrients.

**''it is apparent that changes in requirements for the elderly do not suggest massive supplement use covering most micronutrients." minor diet changes can fill needs for nutrients, ''with supplements included only where there is evidence of serious limitation of intake."

I disagrees with a study suggesting that older adults should take two multivitamins a day.

There is no evidence that older adults need more thiamin, riboflavin, or niacin than younger people.

**some older adults may need more vitamin B6, B12, and folate, research suggests.

**But vitamin C needs do not seem to change with age,if an older adult does not smoke cigarettes.

McCormick also found no evidence that absorption or the body's use of vitamin E changes as people get older.

**He says there is a decrease in the way the skin makes vitamin D. So for some older adults, supplemental vitamin D may be needed. **In some research, taking 800 to 1,000 IUs of vitamin D a day helped women who were past menopause.

**Copper requirements don't seem to change with age.

Older adults often take in less chromium, but there is not evidence that there are any health consequences.

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