Question

An elderly woman in a nursing home no longer goes outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, has reduced her meat intake because her dentures don't fit well, and has recently been having difficulty concentrating on conversations with others. These symptoms indicate a deficiency of _____.

Answer 1

Answer:

Vitamin D and Vitamin B12

Explanation:

Research has shown that older people are at risk of having a deficiency in vitamin D. Also, there is decreased ability of older people to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D is very essential in the body as it helps the body to absorb calcium needed for healthy bone and good health condition. The elderly woman, as a result of not getting adequate exposure to sunlight, would most likely develop a deficiency in vitamin D. Vitamin D is naturally produced in the body when exposed to sunlight.

Meat is a rich source of Vitamin B12. It is very useful in the production of red blood cells and also helps in keeping the nerve cells functioning properly. The elderly woman is not getting enough Vitamin B12 due to her inability to eat meat, which might be responsible for a drop in the level of Vitamin B12 in her body. A drop in the level of this vitamin in the woman’s body could most likely be a major factor causing the decline in her health condition as a result of poor functioning of her nerve cells.