Nutritional Needs Vary with Age
As you age, your body goes through a number of changes, many of which can alter your nutritional needs and increase your risk of nutritional deficiencies. These changes may include decreased nutrient absorption, decreased bone mass, decreased muscle mass, menopause, and decreased appetite.
All in all, aging is a process that is accompanied by changes in many aspects of health. Aging affects not only how you look and feel, but also the specific nutrients and amounts your body needs. The changes in micronutrients required for specific life stages are shown in the table below. [1]
Protheragen is focusing on the nutritional supplements needed for healthy aging. We offer some high-quality supplements to make it easier to meet your nutritional needs to support healthy aging and help you look your best.
| Table of Micronutrient Requirements for Specific Life Stages |
|---|
| Select Micronutrients | Recommended Dietary Allowance | Tolerable Upper Intake Levels |
Children
4–8 years
9–13 years
14–18 years: M/F | Adults
19–50 years: M/F | Older age
51 to >70 years: M/F | Children
4–8 years
9–13 years
14–18 years | Adults
19–50 years | Older age
51 to >70 years |
| Vitamin C, mg/day | 25
45
75/65 | 90/75 | 90/75 | 650
1200
1800/1800 | 2000 | 2000 |
| Vitamin D, μg/day | 15 | 15 | 15–20 | 75
100
100/100 | 100 | 100 |
| Vitamin A, μg/day | 400
600
900/700 | 900/700 | 900/700 | 900
1700
2800/2800 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Vitamin E, mg/day | 7
11
15 | 15 | 15 | 300
600
800 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Vitamin B6, mg/day | 0.6
1.0
1.3/1.2 | 1.3 | 1.7/1.5 | 40
60
80 | 100 | 100 |
| Vitamin B12, μg/day | 1.2
1.8
2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | ND | ND | ND |
| Folate, μg/day | 200
300
400 | 300-400 | 400 | 400
600
800 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Zinc, mg/day | 5
8
11/9 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 12
23
34 | 40 | 40 |
| Iron, mg/day | 10
8
11/15 | 8/18 | 8 | 40
40
45 | 45 | 45 |
| Copper, μg/day | 440
700
890 | 900 | 900 | 3000
5000
8000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Selenium, μg/day | 30
40
55 | 55 | 55 | 150
280
400 | 400 | 400 |
Nutraceuticals for Healthy Aging
The table below lists some important phytochemicals and nutraceuticals that may help prevent certain age-related chronic diseases and related disabilities. [2]
| Phytochemical/nutraceuticals | Target disease/condition |
|---|
| Calcium and vitamin D | Osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes |
| Antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, polyphenols) | Cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative disease |
| B vitamins (folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12) | Heart disease, cognition |
| Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, DHA, EPA) | Inflammation, heart disease, stroke |
| Plant stanols/sterols | Elevated blood cholesterol, heart disease |
| Glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen | Osteoarthritis |
| Lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene | Macular degeneration |
| EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) | Cancer |
| Fiber (soluble and insoluble) | Diabetes, constipation |
| Prebiotics and probiotics | Diarrhea |
| Potassium | Hypertension |
| Whey protein | Sarcopenia |
| Zinc | Immunity, macular degeneration |
| Coenzyme Q10 | Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction |
| DHA = docosahexaenoic acid; EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid. |
Related Research Information
The figure below illustrates the nutrient sensing signaling and stress response pathways in C. elegans and D. melanogaster. Studies have shown that dietary interventions promote healthy lifespan and stress resistance through multiple nutrient-sensing pathways, such as modulation of ROS/redox status, interaction with IIS and osmotic resistance pathways, regulation of lifespan extension through TOR signaling-mediated autophagy. (Ac: açai, BB: blueberry, CA: caffeic acid, CB: cranberry, Co: cocoa, Cu: curcumin, GB: ginkgo biloba, GT: green tea, Ne: nectarine, OO: olive oil, Qu: quercetin, RD: rosa damascene, RA: rosmarinic acid, Sp: spermidine, TA: tannic acid, and TT: thioflavin T. *ROS presented in the figure indicates the regulation of ROS/redox state.) [3]
References- Silvia Maggini. (2018). "Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over the Life Course," Nutrients 10(10), 1531.
- Charu Gupta. (2015). "Nutraceuticals for geriatrics," Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 5(1), 5-14.
- Yuqing Dong. (2012). "Nutraceutical Interventions for Promoting Healthy Aging in Invertebrate Models," Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2012, 718491.
※ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
