Research shows that most older vegetarians have a similar dietary intake of nutrients and nutrients to non-vegetarians. With age, the body’s energy requirements decrease, but the need for substances such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and possibly protein will increase. Sun exposure is also usually limited, and therefore vitamin D synthesis is limited, so additional sources of vitamin D are especially important for older people.
Some people may also have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12, so additional sources of vitamin B12 are needed, incl. from fortified foods, tk. usually vitamin B12 from fortified and fortified foods is absorbed well. Protein recommendations for older people are conflicting.
Dietary guidelines currently do not recommend supplemental protein intake for older adults. The researchers of the nitrogen balance meta-analysis concluded that there is no obvious need to recommend protein supplementation to older people, but emphasized that the data are not complete and contradictory. Other researchers conclude that the need for proteins for this kind of people may be about 1 – 1,25 g per 1 kg. weight .
Older people can easily meet their daily protein requirement while on a vegetarian diet., provided that protein-rich plant foods such as legumes and soy products are included in the daily diet. A vegetarian diet rich in dietary fiber may be helpful for older people with constipation.
Older vegetarians can greatly benefit from advice from nutrition professionals about foods that are easy to chew, require minimal heat, or are suitable for therapeutic diets.