As you age, your metabolism naturally tends to slow (leading to the infamous middle age spread) which might make you think you need less vitamins and minerals. But unfortunately, increasing age also means your ability to absorb key micronutrients decreases so you need more overall.
We all need iron to produce the red blood cell pigment (haemoglobin), which carries oxygen around the body, and the red muscle pigment (myoglobin), which supplies oxygen to our muscles. Iron is also vital for energy production in our cells. If you are cutting back on red meat to follow a more plant-based diet, or to help maintain or lose weight, iron deficiency can slowly creep up on you. Worldwide, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disease, with most cases going unrecognised.
The age-related nutrient gap
The recommended daily intake of iron for adult men is 8.7mg. Women have a higher requirement for iron and a recommended daily intake of 14.8mg to account for menstrual blood loss.
Up to 27% of people in the NDNS (National Diet and Nutrition Survey) report up to the age of 54 do not have enough iron. Overall, half of women in the UK do not meet their daily iron requirement. Anaemia is the commonest blood abnormality in the older population in the UK and the overall prevalence of anaemia in older people in the UK is 20.1% in (65 – 74 year old) men and 13.7% in women of the same age group.*
One of the main causes of iron deficiency anaemia is sometimes related to diet, but it can also be linked to gastrointestinal causes such as peptic ulcers, plus could be linked to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as NSAID use also those who regularly take aspirin. Other causes could be polyps, inflammatory bowel disease but all cases of anaemia should be investigated.
Why vitamin absorption reduces with age
The main factor that affects nutrient absorption as you get older is reduced production of stomach acid. The stomach lining naturally thins and become less active with age, in a condition known as atrophic gastritis. One study found that 24% of those in their sixties is affected, rising to 32% of those in their seventies, and 40% of those aged 80 and over. Other estimates put the prevalence of atrophic gastritis at around one in five older people.
Low levels of acidity affect the absorption of many nutrients, including calcium, iron, betacarotene (a plant source of vitamin A), folic acid and vitamin B12. The absorption of vitamin B12 is further decreased by reduced stomach production of a substance called intrinsic factor which is needed to absorb vitamin B12 further down in the intestines.
Because of these changes, vitamin and mineral supplements designed for those aged 50+ tend to contain twice as much B vitamins and other key nutrients as those designed for under 50s. Supplements developed to meet the needs of those aged 70+ will contain even more.
Diet should always come first
Iron occurs in two forms found in both animals and plant foods. Haem iron is found in animal foods such as red meat, offal (liver, kidneys, heart), poultry, eggs and seafood such as mussels and canned sardines. Non-haem iron is found naturally in plants foods such as beans, pulses, dark green leafy vegetables, oats, quinoa, tofu and nuts. Other surprisingly good sources of non-haem iron are dried herbs and spices that can be added to many dishes. White flour is fortified with iron in the UK as are foods such as breakfast cereals and together these account for a significant proportion of the nation’s intake. Vegetarians, and those who eat little red meat, are also at increased risk of iron deficiency.
How to increase the absorption of iron from plant foods
- Combine them with foods that are rich in vitamin C such as fruit juice, berries, red pepper or cauliflower.
- Avoid drinking tea with meals or shortly after as it contains compounds called tannins that bind with iron and inhibit its absorption.
- Compounds called phytates found in wholegrain foods, beans (especially soya beans) and pulses can also impact on iron absorption, but this is really only a concern for people with particularly low iron stores. Eating plenty of iron in your diet can account for the presence of phytates in the diet.
Symptoms of iron deficiency
If your levels of iron drop below a certain level then you can develop a condition called anaemia, which mostly affects women. The symptoms of iron deficiency are listed below and if you think you may be at risk then the first course of action is to visit your GP who can run a blood test to assess your status. If your levels are too low, you will be advised to increase your intake of iron-rich foods and take an iron supplement such as Healthspan Iron Care (£6.95 for 120 tablets). Healthspan IronCare is made from iron bisglycinate, which is gentle on the stomach, preventing some of the side effects associated with traditional iron supplements, such as constipation and nausea. Available, 120 tablets £6.95 http://www.healthspan.co.uk/cardio-care/ironcare/
Dr Sarah Brewer is a medically-qualified nutritionist, and Medical Director of Healthspan.
*British Committee for Standard in Haematology
** Study by Dr Bernard Favrat, of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, said: ‘We found that iron supplementation for 12 weeks decreased fatigue by almost 50 per cent from baseline, a significant difference of 19 per cent compared with placebo, in menstruating iron-deficient nonanaemic women with unexplained fatigue and ferritin levels below 50g/L.
Taking supplements for 12 weeks reduced fatigue by almost a half in women who had low levels but were not deficient.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26286890
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/131/4/1359S/4686879
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26286890
https://www.hsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Healthy-Ageing-Report-FINAL-1.pdf
About the Author / Sarah Brewer
Dr Sarah Brewer is a regular contributor to 50connect, she qualified from Cambridge University with degrees in Natural Sciences, Medicine and Surgery. After working in general practice, she went on to achieve her master’s degree in nutritional medicine from the University of Surrey. As well as being a licensed doctor, Sarah is now also a Registered Nutritionist, Registered Nutritional Therapist and an award winning health writer. Dr Brewer writes widely on all aspects of health and nutrition, including complementary medicine and the safe use of herbal remedies and vitamin supplements. She has written over 50 popular self-help books, is the Editor of YourWellness magazine, and a regular contributor to national newspapers and key women’s publications. Sarah is married with three children and lives in the Channel Islands.
