B-12 slips as we age
Vitamin B-12 deficiency can be a problem for older people. As they age, their stomachs produce less gastric acid, so they have a harder time absorbing B-12 from foods. Ten to 15 percent of people over age 60 may be deficient, according to an article in the June/July issue of Eating Well.
Vitamin B-12 is important in that it makes DNA, the building block of genes. It also helps to maintain healthy nerve and red blood cells. Someone deficient in this vitamin initially will experience fatigue and dizziness and eventually may have nerve damage, severe anemia and dementia.
A daily intake of 6 micrograms of vitamin B-12 is recommended to ensure adequate absorption.
Foods with B-12 include beef liver, clams, Complete Wheat Bran Flakes, lobster, tuna fish, salmon, ground beef, milk and cottage cheese.
The other skin cancer
When people think of skin cancer, the focus usually goes to the most deadly type, melanoma, and the most common type, basal cell.
Yet squamous cell cancer is three times more common than melanoma, with about 200,000 new cases in this country annually, according to a story in the May Harvard Health Letter.
Squamous cell cancer results from the excessive growth of keratinocytes. It appears on or near scaly patches from actinic keratoses that develop on skin damaged by the sun. The cancer lesions usually are hard, well-defined and sometimes crusty.
Heart and kidney transplant recipients are 65 to 250 times more likely to get squamous cell cancer, possibly because their immune systems are suppressed by drugs they are given to prevent organ rejection. Another risk factor is chronic inflammation.
The best treatment for small lesions is cryotherapy (rapid freezing) or radiation. Larger lesions may require surgery.
As with all skin cancers, the best way to avoid them is to limit sun exposure and use sunscreen.
Ending seizures
About 2.7 million Americans experience epileptic seizures, which occur when part of the brain malfunctions and brain cells (neurons) send electric signals too quickly or abnormally.
The cause may be genetic or result from a brain tumor or head trauma. However, about 50 percent of epilepsy cases have an unknown cause, according to a report in the May 30 issue of Woman’s Day.
Epilepsy is most common in those under age 18 and over age 65. If you have a seizure, consult a physician or neurologist, who may give you anticonvulsant drugs to significantly reduce or eliminate the seizures.
Side effects of such drugs include fatigue, dizziness and weight gain. They also may increase the risk for osteoporosis and double the risk of birth defects. Brain surgery may be necessary for the 20 to 30 percent of patients who don’t respond to medication.
For more information, contact the Epilepsy Foundation by calling 800-332-1000, or go online at efa.org.
Magnesium for bones
Add magnesium to your diet if you’re trying to maintain better bone density, recommends a report in the May issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
A study on bone-mineral density reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that white men and women who consumed more magnesium had significantly higher bone density readings than those who took less magnesium.
Unfortunately, the same wasn’t true for black men and women, possibly because there are differences in the way vitamin D and other calcium-regulating hormones are processed.
Magnesium helps the body absorb and use vitamin D, which helps in calcium absorption for healthy bones.
Dietary sources of magnesium include green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, meats and milk. Supplements also are available, but don’t take them if you have impaired kidney function or kidney failure.
