Low Intake of Vitamins, Minerals Tied to Social Isolation in Older Adults
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
.jpg?width=1200)
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 -- A striking considerable number of older adults have lower-than-recommended vitamin and mineral intake, which is associated with social isolation and loneliness, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Age and Ageing.
Andrew Steptoe, Ph.D., from University College London, and colleagues evaluated whether isolation and loneliness are related to inadequate intake of micronutrients in the diet. The analysis included data from 3,713 older adults (mean age, 68.26 years) followed for two years.
The researchers found that the prevalence of low dietary intake varied markedly across micronutrients. There was an association observed between social isolation (1-point increase) with increased odds of low intake of magnesium (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.153), potassium (OR, 1.201), vitamin B6 (OR, 1.263), folate (OR, 1.211), and vitamin C (OR, 1.238). These associations persisted when accounting for food insecurity and impaired activities of daily living. There were no associations for loneliness and inadequate intake of any micronutrient.
"A varied diet with enough plant-based food (fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, wholegrain cereals), and fish is important to help maintain a healthy body and mind," coauthor Camille Lassale, Ph.D., from ISGlobal in Barcelona, Spain, said in a statement. "Access to these products needs to be guaranteed, and promotion of their consumption is particularly important in the elderly who are living alone or isolated."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Suicide-Specific Therapy App Effectively Cuts Suicidal Behavior in High-Risk Inpatients
THURSDAY, Aug. 14, 2025 -- A mobile phone app designed to deliver suicide-specific therapy reduces suicidal behavior among high-risk psychiatric inpatients, according to a study...
Dietary Patterns Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease Risk
THURSDAY, Aug. 14, 2025 -- Compared with other dietary indices, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) provide chronic kidney...
DASH Diet Modified for Diabetes Lowers Blood Glucose Levels
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2025 -- A modified version of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is effective at lowering glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.