Vitamins For Those Over 60 Years Old

Five to ten percent of people in the United States over the age of 60 show clinical signs of vitamin deficiencies, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Getting all the vitamins you need after the age of 60 can contribute to overall improvements in your health. Look for certain nutrients when choosing a vitamin supplement. Make sure the vitamin you choose contains an adequate amount of each particular nutrient.

Calcium

Calcium intake is important to help protect you against bone loss and serious injuries that can result from the loss. Although women are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men, both men and women over 60 should increase their intake of calcium.

According to the findings of a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reported by Huntington College of Health Sciences, only 6 percent of adult women in the United States over 60 consume the recommended amounts of calcium. According to "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," once menopause begins women should take 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day. Men should talk with their doctor about their specific calcium needs; some men may be more at risk for bone loss than others.

Vitamin D

According to the USC Health Magazine, after the age of 60 the amount of vitamin D your body produces decreases and this can have a negative effect on your calcium absorption. USC Health Magazine cites the National Institutes of Health vitamin D recommendations, stating that by the age of 60 the intake of vitamin D should increase from 200 IU to 600 IU.

People over the age of 60 can make a conscious effort to spend more time outside. This will help increase the amount of vitamin D you glean from the sun. When outside it is important to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing to reduce your risk of sunburn or skin cancer.

B-12

Vitamin B-12 deficiencies are not uncommon among elderly populations. According to HelpGuide.org, after you have reached the age of 50 you will absorb less of the vitamin B-12 you take in, because your stomach produces less of the gastric acid needed to absorb the vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 is important for you to continue functioning. Therefore, by the age of 60 you should be taking in at least 2.4 mcg of B-12 per day in the form of supplements or food fortified with B-12, notes HelpGuide.org.

Folic Acid

Folic acid deficiencies can develop from poor diet and the intake of too much alcohol. Also, some medications are known to impair your body's absorption of folate. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, having enough folic acid in your diet has been shown to reduce the chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in some people; therefore, it is important to get at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day.