Summary
According to this Ecuadorian study, micronutrient deficiencies and infectious diseases are common in the Ecuadorian elderly. In this study, 145 elderly were involved. It showed, among others, that participants in this group have deficiencies of zinc (50%), iron (44%), vitamin B12 (43%), vitamin D (19%), and folate (18%). Furthermore, an increased number of respiratory infections (54%) and diarrhea (21%) were observed during the 6 months of this study. In conclusion, this study showed, among others, that micronutrient deficiencies, which induce a reduced function of the immune system, are prevalent in the Ecuadorian elderly. More details can be found in the study.
References
Sempértegui et al.