Vitamins are one of the six essential nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, inorganic salts, and water) that are indispensable for the body's metabolism. Vitamins are the elements that sustain life and are organic compounds that we absolutely cannot do without. Why is that? Because:
1. In terms of physiological function, vitamins are neither the raw materials that make up the body's tissues nor the substances that supply energy to the body; rather, they are a class of substances indispensable to the body. It has now been proven that most vitamins are components of certain coenzymes and play an important role in material metabolism. Without vitamins, enzymes cannot be formed or function. And without enzymes—the catalysts for biochemical reactions—humans cannot sustain life.
2. When the body lacks vitamins, material metabolism will be disrupted, affecting normal physiological functions, and even causing certain diseases, such as night blindness, beriberi, and rickets. These diseases are collectively known as vitamin deficiency diseases.
Vitamins are crucial for human health, but under normal circumstances, as long as one eats normally and has normal digestive and absorption functions, most people do not have a problem of vitamin deficiency and do not need to supplement them separately. However, if the elderly suffer from chronic wasting diseases or intestinal absorption disorders, they are prone to vitamin deficiency and need appropriate supplementation, but they should not be abused. Abusing vitamins not only leads to a waste of medication but can also cause an imbalance between vitamins and other vitamins, affecting the body's normal functions, and in severe cases, can lead to poisoning.
When the elderly lack vitamin B1, they may develop nutritional diabetes, multiple neuritis, beriberi, etc. However, long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate use can cause adverse reactions such as headache, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, loss of appetite, diarrhea, edema, and arrhythmia. Intravenous injection too quickly can lead to a drop in blood pressure or allergic reactions (such as urticaria, bronchial asthma, etc.).
When the elderly lack vitamin B6, deficiency symptoms such as anemia, decreased resistance, and spasms may appear. When taken in large doses, it has a significant antagonistic effect with levodopa, which can eliminate the antiparkinsonian effect of levodopa; it reduces the anti-tuberculosis effect of isoniazid. High-dose injections of vitamin B6 can also cause allergic reactions. When the elderly lack vitamin B12, it can lead to megaloblastic anemia, neurological disorders, glossitis, etc. However, long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate use can not only cause allergic reactions, which can lead to allergic shock in severe cases, but also promote the synthesis of viral DNA and facilitate the growth of viruses, so it should not be abused.
When the elderly lack vitamin C, symptoms of vitamin C deficiency such as gum bleeding and loose teeth may appear. However, long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate use can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, and symptoms of urinary system stones; it can destroy vitamin B12 in food, hinder the absorption of calcium ions in food, and cause deficiencies of vitamin B12, copper, and zinc.
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids and has a hematopoietic effect. When deficient, it can cause megaloblastic anemia. However, when taken in excess, adverse reactions such as a bitter taste in the mouth, skin flushing, fever, nausea, and vomiting may occur.
When the elderly lack vitamin A, symptoms such as decreased vision in dim light, dry skin, and poor epithelial growth may appear. However, if taken in large doses for a long period indiscriminately, poisoning symptoms such as hair loss, skin itching, nausea, vomiting, and severe headache will occur.
When the elderly lack vitamin D, the incidence of osteoporosis is high, and fractures are prone to occur. However, long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate use can cause low-grade fever, irritability; liver and kidney damage, bone hardening, etc.
When the elderly lack vitamin E, the antioxidant effect is weakened, but long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate use can cause adverse reactions such as platelet aggregation, thrombosis, gastrointestinal dysfunction, skin chapping, urticaria, hormonal metabolic disorders, elevated blood lipids, blurred vision, and decreased immune function.
In summary, the elderly should prevent the abuse of vitamins and should not take them as health supplements.