Research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging (2011;15(2):99–103) examined the long-term nutritional status of 78 non-institutionalized adults, ages 70 to 75, over a 10-year period.
At the start of the study, participants consumed diets that met the lowest European Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for all vitamins except thiamin. However, over the course of the decade, the number of nutrient deficiencies increased substantially, despite participants remaining community-dwelling and generally healthy.
By the end of the study:
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Riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin A deficiencies were present in about 50% of participants
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Vitamin C deficiency was also common
Based on these findings, the authors concluded that nutrient deficiencies can develop over time even in older adults who initially consume adequate diets, and that multivitamin supplementation may be necessary, even in otherwise healthy individuals, to help maintain nutritional status with aging.
