VITAMIN D IN THE OLDER ADULT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE – – – – – – – – – i
LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS – – – – – – – ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS – – – – – – – – iii-iv
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 1-2
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY/INSUFFICIENCY IN THE
AGING ADULT – – – – – – – – 3
2.1 Pathophysiology – – – – – – – – 3-4
2.2 Vitamin D Recommendations – – – – – – 5
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 VITAMIN D IN OLDER ADULT
3.1 Side Effects of Taking Vitamin D – – – – – 6
3.1.1 Psychological Aging – – – – – – – 7
3.1.2 Cognitive Decline – – – – – – – – 7-11
3.1.3 Depression – – – – – – – – – 11-13
3.1.4 Physical Aging – – – – – – – – 14
3.1.5 Osteoporosis – – – – – – – – 14-17
3.1.6 Cardiovascular Disease – – – – – – – 18-20
3.1.7 Hypertension – – – – – – – – 20-21
3.1.8 Type 2 Diabetes – – – – – – – – 21-23
3.1.9 Immune Function – – – – – – – – 24
3.1.10 Cancer – – – – – – – – – 24-25
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
4.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 26
4.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 27
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Vitamin D plays a vital role in human health (Holick, 2010). Low levels of vitamin D can drastically impact a person’s physical and mental well-being (Holick, 2011; Chan, and Woo, 2011). Traditionally, research focused on the role of vitamin D in the maintenance of skeletal health. In recent years, following the discovery of vitamin D receptors throughout the body, its role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases has become an important area of study. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various health problems, including cognitive decline, depression, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer (Hossein-nezhad, and Holick, 2013; Holick, 2011). As persons age, the risk for vitamin D deficiency significantly increases. The percent of older adults suffering from vitamin D deficiency ranges from 20 to 100% in the United States (US) (Holick, et al., 2011). Risk factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency in older adults include reduced nutritional intake of vitamin D, increasing adiposity, decreased cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D, and less time spent outdoors (Cesari et al., 2011; Chan, and Woo, 2011) . The number of individuals aged 65 and older is expected to more than double from 2012 to 2060 (U.S. Census, 2012). Thus, understanding the relationship between vitamin D and chronic diseases in the older adult and whether treatment of vitamin D deficiency can prevent or ameliorate these disorders is important. This paper highlights the current evidence regarding the role that vitamin D may play in diseases associated with aging and also addresses the need for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining the impact of vitamin D on the prevention and treatment of these diseases in the older.
