Expert opinion
Video: Perspective on Personalized Nutrition from Lucy Jones, RD
24 October 2018
Internationally-recognized registered dietitian, Lucy Jones, provides her perspective on the fast-growing segment of personalized nutrition.
22 February 2016
In the USA, 50% of people aged 70 years or older did not consume the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) for vitamins D, E and K, and 35 to 40% for vitamins C and A. Whilst for the B vitamins, the percentage of older people failing to meet the EAR was between 1 and 30%.
A new study (1) using the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data from 2003 to 2008 has demonstrated that elderly people aged over 70 in the USA are deficient in the major vitamins. It also demonstrated that this deficiency is related to income, with the poorest being most at risk. For example, for vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin K, 13.7%, 9.5% and 56.7% respectively were below the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) where the household income exceeded USD 75,000 per year, whereas the equivalent figures for the poorest group (i.e., less than USD 25,000 per year) were 31.1%, 19% and 75.3%. Overall, the data demonstrated that 50% of people aged 70 years or older did not consume the EAR for vitamins D, E and K, and 35 to 40% for vitamins C and A. Whilst for the B vitamins, the percentage of older people failing to meet the EAR was between 1 and 30%.
People aged 70 years or older generally have poorer appetites and have impaired absorption of most nutrients, so it is even more important that an intake equivalent to the EAR is achieved.
It has been previously demonstrated that the regular use of supplements can address this problem effectively (2), where the authors showed that the number of elderly men below the EAR for vitamin A, vitamin E and folic acid decreased from 53%, 93% and 75% to 4%, 14% and 7% respectively.
24 October 2018
Internationally-recognized registered dietitian, Lucy Jones, provides her perspective on the fast-growing segment of personalized nutrition.
1 May 2013
It is believed that around a third of all cancer cases could be attributed to dietary and lifestyle factors. The link between nutrition and cancer risk is very complex, and it is difficult to establish the influence of individual dietary factors. The results of reviews have indicated that cancer-preventive diets above all consist of large quantities of plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and pulses. With a low energy density, these foods supply the body with plenty of fiber, as well as varying amounts of essential micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and trace elements, which are thought to potentially influence the specific mechanisms by which cancers develop. Several of these micronutrients are involved in the maintenance of genetic information (Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) and may therefore be able to prevent the formation of tumor cells.
1 November 2011
One in every seven people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger. Yet the vast amount of people who suffer from “hidden hunger” are often neglected.