Article 78: Zinc deficiency leading to decreased appetite, epilepsy and high-zinc diets, and zinc deficiency causing night blindness.

What deficiencies cause decreased appetite in the elderly?

In daily life, some elderly people often find food tasteless and have a poor appetite.

decline.

The main reasons are a decline in taste function and a reduction in the body's zinc content.

That's why.

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements for the human body.

Normal serum zinc levels in the human body

It is 7.7μmol/L～21.4μmol/L (50μg/dl～140μg/dl).

liver

It is the body's "zinc storehouse," which can increase the supply of zinc when the body needs it.

A decrease in serum zinc levels indicates a zinc deficiency; a decrease in liver zinc levels indicates...

This indicates that the body's zinc reserves are about to be depleted, meaning that zinc supplementation is urgently needed.

Zinc is an important component of gustin in saliva and gastric acid.

Guttate

It is the medium of taste in the mouth and is related to maintaining the normal function of taste buds.

normal

Adults need about 10 to 15 grams of zinc per day, while older adults need even more.

Some elderly people are prone to anemia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc., and often need to...

You should take oral iron and calcium supplements, as these medications can interfere with zinc absorption.

It reduces the body's zinc levels.

As people age, their bodies deteriorate, and various...

With the increasing prevalence of various diseases, the intake of medications is inevitably increasing, thus contributing to zinc deficiency.

It is more common.

Loss of appetite and loss of taste due to zinc deficiency

Insufficient diet can exacerbate zinc deficiency.

Over time, this has seriously affected the elderly.

Human health.

Plant-based foods generally contain less zinc, while vegetables and fruits contain more fiber.

The pectin in it can also hinder the absorption of zinc.

Only animal-based foods contain relatively high levels of zinc.

Abundant, such as beef, mutton, and pork.

Red wine can enhance zinc absorption.

Increase the proportion of high-density lipoprotein in the blood to lower cholesterol, therefore older adults

People should regularly eat some animal meat (100-150 grams per day) and drink some red wine.

(50-70 ml daily) is beneficial for zinc supplementation, promoting appetite, and improving health.

Kang.

Epilepsy and a high-zinc diet

Zinc is an activator of many enzymes in the human body.

Zinc is essential for growth and development.

This is especially important for them, and they should be encouraged to eat more zinc-rich foods.

But epilepsy patients or

People with a history of this disease should eat less zinc-rich foods.

This is because of epilepsy

The onset of these symptoms is related to elevated zinc levels in the body, especially in the brain.

Clinically, it has been found that the blood zinc concentration in epilepsy patients is significantly higher than that in normal people.

Antiepileptic drugs or their metabolites can effectively form complexes with zinc ions.

This can lower the patient's blood zinc concentration, thereby controlling epileptic seizures.

visible

For epilepsy patients, consuming too many zinc-rich foods can worsen their condition and interfere with treatment.

Zinc deficiency can cause night blindness

Long-term vitamin A deficiency can lead to a person's dark adaptation ability.

It can lead to decreased physical strength and even night blindness.

Actually, this is not the main cause of night blindness.

because.

Recent studies have revealed that vitamin A's transport in the body and its normal distribution in the blood...

Maintaining constant concentrations is related to zinc.

Normally, vitamin A is stored in the liver in the form of lipoproteins.

It is hydrolyzed from lipoproteins when needed in the body, and contains highly specific carriers.

Retinol-binding protein and prealbumin bind to form a complex that is transported in the blood.

It is used for the production and distribution of nutrients to the eye, retina, and other epithelial tissues.

And this

Zinc is required for all of these processes to be completed.

In addition, the composition of retinol reductase in liver and retinal cells also...

Zinc is required.

It is evident that zinc directly affects the metabolism of vitamin A and retinol.

effect.

Therefore, the effect of treating some night blindness patients with vitamin A alone is not good.

It's not obvious; it only works if zinc is supplemented at the same time.

In addition to causing night blindness, zinc deficiency in the human body can also lead to retinitis pigmentosa.

Sexual dysfunction and optic neuritis.

Therefore, the treatment of night blindness and visual and color vision disorders

Zinc should be supplemented promptly and adequately.

Zinc is found in animal-based foods such as beef, lamb, and...

Pork contains a relatively high amount of zinc, and wine also contains a relatively high amount of zinc, so older adults should not only...

Eat a vegetarian diet to avoid zinc deficiency.

For the treatment of night blindness, zinc is similar to vitamin A.

important.

How to supplement iron effectively

Iron is an essential trace element for the human body. The normal iron level in the blood is [value missing] for men.

The concentration ranges from 9 μmol/L to 29 μmol/L for females and from 7 μmol/L to 27 μmol/L for males.

In clinical practice, low iron levels are commonly seen in various types of iron-deficiency anemia, malignant tumors, and cirrhosis.

Causes include chemoradiolysis, prolonged blood loss, and impaired iron absorption.

Iron is a component of hemoglobin.

It is involved in oxygen transport, exchange, and the process of tissue respiration.

Daily iron supply

The dosage stipulated in my country is: 12mg for adult men and postmenopausal women, and [missing information - likely a dosage range] for adolescents.

15mg for children, 6mg-12mg for pregnant and lactating women, and 18mg for pregnant and lactating women.

my country's diet is mainly plant-based, and the natural components of the food...

However, iron is a high-valence iron with very low solubility and cannot be directly absorbed.

Only

Only iron in a low-valent state, which is highly soluble in acidic environments, is easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.

The Tao absorbs.

Therefore, eating many iron-rich foods does not necessarily provide the necessary iron levels.

The purpose of iron absorption is to ensure proper dietary iron supplementation.

To improve iron absorption, it's essential to first understand the factors that affect it.

white:

1. Elderly people have poor gastrointestinal function and poor iron absorption.

2. In patients with intestinal problems, increased intestinal peristalsis causes food residue to remain in the intestines.

A short time frame can also hinder iron absorption.

3. Chronic gastritis leading to insufficient gastric juice and having undergone gastrectomy or duodenectomy.

Post-operative conditions can affect iron absorption.

4. Ferrous iron (Fe3+) from plant-based foods is more difficult to absorb than ferrous iron (Fe2+) from animal-based foods.

receive.

5. Alkaline foods and foods containing oxalic acid, phytic acid, phosphoric acid, or salts may...

It reduces the absorption rate of iron from other foods.

To improve iron utilization, it is essential to have a balanced diet, including adequate iron intake.

Special attention should be paid to the combination of foods containing vitamin C and amino acids.

Like iron in rice

The absorption rate is only 1%, but it can be improved if consumed with meat and vegetables.

More than 10%.

The iron absorption rate from corn is only 3%, so drinking a glass of orange juice before meals or...

Pairing iron with foods rich in vitamin C, such as tomatoes and green peppers, can improve iron absorption.

Five times higher.

To ensure adequate iron levels in the body, middle-aged and elderly people should consume more iron-rich foods.

High in animal-based foods, such as liver, lean meat, fish, and eggs.

plant-based foods

Seaweed, laver, soybeans, sesame, celery, and lettuce are also rich in iron.

Only

With a balanced diet and proper iron supplementation, various diseases caused by iron deficiency are generally unlikely to occur.

sick.

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