Arthritis
Although diet plays a part in gout, there is no evidence that nutrition can cause or cure osteoarthritis. In spite of this, many elderly people spend large sums of mane:' on special foods and vitamins, hoping that their arthritis will be helped. Because obesity can cause increased stress on arthritic joints, weight reduction diet may benefit overweight people with arthritis.
Arthritis pain and deformities may limit mobility. making food preparation and shopping difficult. Hands crippled with arthritis may require specially adapted utensils to facilitate eating. Habitual aspirin use for arthritis ma:' cause gastrointestinal bleeding, increasing the risk of anemia.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common problem among the elderly, especiall: women. Estimates of the prevalence of osteoporosis range from 1500 to 500b. At least 10% of the population over 50 has osteoporosis severe enough to cause vertebral, hip or long bone fractures: occurs gradually and is asymptomatic in the early stage Advanced osteoporosis may not be noticed until spontaneous fractures occur. In postmenopausal women, the first symptoms are progressive loss of height.
Bone loss is affected by activity levels, hormonallevels (especially estrogen and parathyroid hormone), high intakes of phosphorus and low intakes of protein, vitamins A, C, and D, fluoride, and calcium. Researchers disagree about whether osteoporosis is a normal consequence of advancing age or can be prevented by diet~· modifications. The Committee on Dietary Allowances. Food and Nutrition Board NAS-NRC21 has stated that the role of long-term nutrient intake in the cause of osteoporosis remains uncertain, and it has continued to recommend intakes of 800 mg per day of calcium for adult and elderly men and women. Other researchers support the view that liberal intakes of calcium may be important, especially for elderly women, and recommend levels as high as 1000 mg for the average person20 and 1400 mg per day for the postmenopausal woman. To achieve these levels, a person would have to consume a quart or more of whole or skim milk or an equivalent amount of cheese. An alternative is daily administration of a calcium supplement.
Prevention of osteoporosis, starting in youth, has been advocated because treatment after diagnosis has generally showed little effect in slowing or reversing bone loss, due in part, perhaps, to decreased calcium absorption in the elderly. Recent studies by Albanese and associates,20 however, have indicated that daily supplements of 750 mg calcium and 375 IU of vitamin D administered over a 3-year period to women aged 79 to 89 resulted in increases in bone density that have been verified by x-ray.
Some researchers feel that calcium-to-phosphorus ratio may be the critical factor because excess phosphorus accelerates bone loss. Although milk intake is decreasing, dietary in takes of phosphorus are increasing in the American diet due to high consumption of meat, carbonated beverages, and the addition of phosphates to processed foods and snack foods. As it is difficult to ingest foods with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio higher than one, dietary calcium supplements may be necessary.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease causes the loss ofteeth in approximately 35 million Americans, most of them elderly. Recent data suggest that periodontal disease may be an early form of generalized nutritional osteoporosis. Bone loss in the jaw may lead to loosening ofthe teeth with later infection of the gums. These changes have been demonstrated in dogs fed high-phosphorus, low-calcium diets. If this research proves applicable to humans, periodontal disease may provide an early warning of osteoporosis, so that appropriate dietary treatment could be instituted to prevent further changes.
Cataracts
Researchers have hypothesized that dietary factors may playa role in the development of cataracts. Gunby25 has suggested that vitamin E may make lens membranes
Although diet plays a part in gout, there is no evidence that nutrition can cause or cure osteoarthritis. In spite of this, many elderly people spend large sums of mane:' on special foods and vitamins, hoping that their arthritis will be helped. Because obesity can cause increased stress on arthritic joints, weight reduction diet may benefit overweight people with arthritis.
Arthritis pain and deformities may limit mobility. making food preparation and shopping difficult. Hands crippled with arthritis may require specially adapted utensils to facilitate eating. Habitual aspirin use for arthritis ma:' cause gastrointestinal bleeding, increasing the risk of anemia.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common problem among the elderly, especiall: women. Estimates of the prevalence of osteoporosis range from 1500 to 500b. At least 10% of the population over 50 has osteoporosis severe enough to cause vertebral, hip or long bone fractures: occurs gradually and is asymptomatic in the early stage Advanced osteoporosis may not be noticed until spontaneous fractures occur. In postmenopausal women, the first symptoms are progressive loss of height.
Bone loss is affected by activity levels, hormonallevels (especially estrogen and parathyroid hormone), high intakes of phosphorus and low intakes of protein, vitamins A, C, and D, fluoride, and calcium. Researchers disagree about whether osteoporosis is a normal consequence of advancing age or can be prevented by diet~· modifications. The Committee on Dietary Allowances. Food and Nutrition Board NAS-NRC21 has stated that the role of long-term nutrient intake in the cause of osteoporosis remains uncertain, and it has continued to recommend intakes of 800 mg per day of calcium for adult and elderly men and women. Other researchers support the view that liberal intakes of calcium may be important, especially for elderly women, and recommend levels as high as 1000 mg for the average person20 and 1400 mg per day for the postmenopausal woman. To achieve these levels, a person would have to consume a quart or more of whole or skim milk or an equivalent amount of cheese. An alternative is daily administration of a calcium supplement.
Prevention of osteoporosis, starting in youth, has been advocated because treatment after diagnosis has generally showed little effect in slowing or reversing bone loss, due in part, perhaps, to decreased calcium absorption in the elderly. Recent studies by Albanese and associates,20 however, have indicated that daily supplements of 750 mg calcium and 375 IU of vitamin D administered over a 3-year period to women aged 79 to 89 resulted in increases in bone density that have been verified by x-ray.
Some researchers feel that calcium-to-phosphorus ratio may be the critical factor because excess phosphorus accelerates bone loss. Although milk intake is decreasing, dietary in takes of phosphorus are increasing in the American diet due to high consumption of meat, carbonated beverages, and the addition of phosphates to processed foods and snack foods. As it is difficult to ingest foods with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio higher than one, dietary calcium supplements may be necessary.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease causes the loss ofteeth in approximately 35 million Americans, most of them elderly. Recent data suggest that periodontal disease may be an early form of generalized nutritional osteoporosis. Bone loss in the jaw may lead to loosening ofthe teeth with later infection of the gums. These changes have been demonstrated in dogs fed high-phosphorus, low-calcium diets. If this research proves applicable to humans, periodontal disease may provide an early warning of osteoporosis, so that appropriate dietary treatment could be instituted to prevent further changes.
Cataracts
Researchers have hypothesized that dietary factors may playa role in the development of cataracts. Gunby25 has suggested that vitamin E may make lens membranes
