Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, says low vitamin B12 and vitamin D often sit behind the vague feeling of not being yourself, especially as you age.
The Aging Untold hosts asked her which deficiencies show up most in older adults. Bodies absorb key vitamins and minerals less easily with age, and the warning signs are easy to miss. Rogers said every cell needs vitamins and trace minerals, so organs can't work alone when one runs short.
B12 shortfalls, she said, can bring mood issues, sensory issues and nerve problems. Vitamin D matters when there's no sunlight out, because people get depressed in the wintertime. Low D can also show up as atrial fibrillation and irritable bowel syndrome.
A basic blood test is a good first step, Rogers said, but it has limits. Levels fluctuate daily, and the test doesn't show whether your receptors work, whether you can transport nutrients or what your tissue expresses. She pointed to a personalized test called genomics, which looks at how you metabolize nutrients so you know what you need. A doctor can also check for interactions with the medications you already take, and Rogers said the whole process needs to be physician-driven.
Her name for the culprits: thieves that steal your vitality.
Common questions
What vitamin deficiencies can make you feel not like yourself?
- Low vitamin B12 and vitamin D often sit behind that feeling, according to Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician. Bodies absorb key vitamins and minerals less easily with age, and every cell needs them, so organs can't work alone when one runs short.
What can low vitamin B12 cause?
- Low B12 can bring mood issues, sensory issues and nerve problems, according to Dr. Rhea Rogers. Those warning signs are easy to miss, especially in older adults, because bodies absorb vitamins less easily with age. Rogers said every cell needs vitamins and trace minerals, so organs can't work alone when one runs short.
Why does vitamin D matter, and is a blood test enough?
- Vitamin D matters when there's no sunlight out, Rogers said, because people get depressed in the wintertime. Low D can also show up as atrial fibrillation and irritable bowel syndrome. A basic blood test is a good first step, though Rogers said it has limits and levels fluctuate.
