Vitamin And Mineral Toxicity In The Elderly

Fulfilling nutritional requirements of vitamins and minerals is important for the elderly, in part because of their susceptibility to many types of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that promote health and help prevent and manage disease. Yet consuming too much of a particular micronutrient can cause toxicity and adverse effects in the elderly. Consult your doctor about vitamin and mineral toxicity in the elderly.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for vision, immune function, regulation of gene expression and production of red blood cells. Vitamin A in the diet is in the form of carotenoids, found primarily in fruits and vegetables, which converts into vitamin A in the body, and preformed vitamin A, which is found in cod liver oil and supplements. The tolerable upper intake level of vitamin A is 10,000 international units, or IUs. This is the amount you can safely take per day before experiencing toxic effects. Consuming too much preformed vitamin A, especially from supplements, increases your risk of toxicity. Vitamin A toxicity occurs after you consume more than 25,000 IUs of vitamin A per day for several weeks or longer. However, the elderly are more susceptible to experience toxicity than younger people and should not consume more than 5,000 IUs per day.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in your body. Vitamin D is vital for immune system stimulation, calcium absorption, bone growth and prevention of bone loss. Vitamin D is found in fatty fish and fortified dairy and fruit juices. The human body makes vitamin D after skin exposure to sunlight. Many elderly people are deficient in vitamin D because they do not get sufficient amount of sunlight. Taking up to 4,000 IUs per day of vitamin D is considered safe. However, elderly people who exceed this amount can experience excessive thirst, bone pain, itchy skin, vomiting and diarrhea.

Iron

Iron is a trace mineral that is vital for production of hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to your cells. Humans store excess iron for use later in life. An accumulation of iron stores can be toxic. Research by scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and published in "Chemical Research in Toxicology" in February 2010 reports iron is a toxic metal and that an excess of iron can contribute to development of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, arteriosclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

Zinc

Zinc is a trace mineral that is important for a healthy immune system. The average elderly person does not consume sufficient amounts of zinc from her diet and needs to take supplements. However, taking excess amounts of zinc can cause a deficiency in copper. You may also experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.