Skip to content

Written in plain English and reviewed by our editorial team How we work

5 Warning Signs of a Vitamin Deficiency After 70

A senior woman sits at a table holding a medication capsule, with a pill bottle, glass of water, and paper nearby.
Request an expanded nutritional blood panel assessing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, total B12, and methylmalonic acid during your annual physical.

Pillar 3: Clinical Advocacy and Diagnostic Testing

Protecting your nutritional health requires active collaboration with healthcare providers who understand geriatric medicine.

Request an expanded nutritional blood panel during your annual physical rather than settling for standard metabolic testing.

Ask your primary care physician to assess your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, total B12, and methylmalonic acid levels.

Evaluating methylmalonic acid provides an exceptionally sensitive marker, detecting functional tissue-level B12 deficiencies that standard tests miss.

Review your medications with a doctor or pharmacist, as proton pump inhibitors and metformin frequently impair nutrient absorption.

Consulting a credentialed professional through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics helps you customize a safe, effective nutritional strategy.

1 Comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Lasting Health newsletter

Clear health news for adults 50+, in your inbox

  • Warning signs worth knowing, explained in plain English
  • Food, drink and supplement comparisons, with the evidence
  • Food recalls and Medicare changes as they are announced

Free. Unsubscribe with one click from any email.