Getting older brings a lot of not-so-fun surprises: gray hair, achy joints, lower bone density…the list goes on. But one particularly scary symptom of aging is having a harder time balancing, leading to increased trips and falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3 million older adults visit the emergency room every year because of a trip or fall.
And unfortunately, a fear of falling can lead to other issues. “Older people, in particular, experience balance problems and may feel limited in their ability to participate in daily activities, such as walking, shopping and interacting with family and friends, which can impact their psychological wellbeing,” Thea Johansen, a physiotherapist, previously told Parade.
There are some well-researched ways to lower your risk of falling, such as walking regularly, which one study found can reduce your risk of falling by 23%. But what if preventing falls was as simple as correcting a vitamin deficiency? There’s one in particular that’s correlated with tripping more. Here’s what to know.
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The Vitamin Deficiency That Could Lead To Tripping More
If you’re tripping more often, or notice that a loved one is, it may be worth getting your B12 levels checked. Dr. Nakeisha Rodgers, MD, a dual board internist, geriatrician and the author of Secrets of Sassy, Savvy Seniors, previously told Parade that B12 deficiencies are common in people over 50, and women in particular.
A B12 deficiency can lead to low energy and memory problems, but another big sign is tripping or falling more often. “Vitamin B12 is important for brain cell communication. Cells need it to function,” she explained.
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Rather than run out to your local pharmacy and buy a B12 supplement, it’s better to get your levels checked via blood test ordered by your doctor. If you are deficiency, they may recommend supplementation, or suggest you eat more vitamin B12-rich foods.
Examples of food types rich in vitamin B12 include:
Fish Meat Poultry Eggs Dairy productsRelated: Endocrinologists Are Begging People To Stop Pairing This Common Supplement With Thyroid Medication
Other Common Vitamin Deficiencies in People Over 50
Vitamin B12 is a common deficiency in adults over 50, but it’s not the only one. As you get older, it’s worth checking in with your doctor to see if you’re deficient in nutrients like calcium, fiber or vitamin D.
Calcium is important for bone health (and bone density tends to decline with age), fiber is key for keeping the digestive system on track and preventing certain cancers (like colon cancer), and vitamin D is crucial for your immune system, cognitive health and injury prevention—like vitamin B12, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to more frequent falls, Dr. Rodgers said.
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Supplementation can be an option, but many doctors will recommend a food-first approach to filling in those nutritional gaps. So again, instead of guessing what’s wrong and stocking up on supplements, it’s always best to consult your doctor first so the two of you can come up with a plan together.
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Sources:
Older Adult Falls Data, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N., Kwok, W., Wallbank, G., Tiedemann, A., Michaleff, Z. A., Ng, C. A. C. M., & Bauman, A. (2020). Evidence on physical activity and falls prevention for people aged 65+ years: Systematic review to inform the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17, Article 144. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release, USDA. Thea Johansen, physiotherapist Dr. Nakeisha Rodgers, MD, a dual board internist, geriatrician and the author of Secrets of Sassy, Savvy SeniorsHence then, the article about tripping more often doctors say it might not be aging it could be a deficiency in this everyday vitamin was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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