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Why the over 50s age group need to supplement – Part 3

Article-Why the over 50s age group need to supplement – Part 3

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In this three-part series, we look at the need to supplement, and key nutrients, vitamins and solutions to consider for the 50+ age group. In Part 1, mobility was highlighted as a primary concern for the over 50s group. In part 2, we investigated common nutrient deficiencies and other key vitamins, and part 3 aims to identify mineral deficiencies of concern and the importance of staying active through the ages.

Minerals are also key, and we're lacking these too

Vitamins are only half the micronutrient story—minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, calcium, copper and others are also involved in so many of our biochemical processes. Nearly half of us are lacking calcium, which we know can lead to loss of bone density as can low magnesium intake, as both are constituents of bone chemistry. Losing large amounts of bone density as we age can lead to osteoporosis, which if unchecked can lead to fragility fractures and hip fractures if we fall. Protecting bone density plays an increasingly important role in our health as we get older.

Calcium is also needed for energy too, which some may find surprising. Being involved in nerve impulses, calcium is also required for muscle health. It's key to ensure that people of all ages get enough calcium for all round musculo-skeletal health—not just bone density.

Studies show that some 80% of the global population are failing to consume enough magnesium thorugh diet alone, which is crucial for energy, and healthy muscle and bone. Magnesium is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in our body and is also critical for making new blood. Zinc is an important mineral involved in multiple health areas (immunity, bone health, muscle health, eye health) and over 60% of older adults are failing to get the RDA from food alone.

Avoid being sedentary

Finally, I’d like to highlight an interesting scientific study on young vs older adults, which was designed to examine the loss of muscle in a sedentary state. Both young and older adults were asked to spend periods of time, over a one-month period, lying down in a controlled experiment and the loss of muscle mass in their legs was measured. The results showed that the young adults lost around 0.4kg of muscle tissue in the month's study. However, the experiment had to be halted for the older adults as data showed that they had lost over 1kg of muscle in just ten days—not the full 28! This means that older adults were losing muscle mass at around nine times the rate of younger adults.

Conclusion

A healthy, well-balanced diet combined with exercise is a priority of course. But real food intake studies show most of us are lacking both protein and many key micronutrients and therefore supplementation with a properly, well-formulated range of supplements, tailored to the over 50s and beyond, is a healthy addition to one’s diet.

Prime Fifty is the only brand that offers evidence based, carefully formulated supplements tailored specifically for the needs of the over 50s.