Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the potential risks of dietary supplements. High doses of vitamins, minerals, and even herbs can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fainting, headaches, seizures, heart attacks or strokes, and even damage to the liver or kidneys. In addition, older adults may be at risk of interactions between medications and dietary supplements (ODS). To better understand the potential risks of dietary supplements for older adults, it is important to explore the characteristics associated with their use and identify possible interactions with prescription drugs.
A study conducted by Blalock (200) found that older adults in rural areas reported low physical and mental health but high use of substances that deplete the air. Compared to national samples of older adults, a high percentage of older adults in rural areas used oral dietary supplements in addition to prescription medications. The researchers found that 83% of older adults in rural areas used oral dietary supplements in addition to prescription medications. Nurses can help provide information on appropriate dietary supplements that promotes patient knowledge and prevents their inappropriate use, especially when caring for older adults in rural settings.
Strategies are needed to monitor their use while ensuring adequate nutrition and the prevention of adverse events. Vitolins and colleagues explored ODS in older adults living in rural communities and found little association with the use of ODS and dietary deficiency with calcium, iron, zinc, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E and B6 due to dietary recall. Current research on older adults in rural areas and their use of substances that deplete is needed to better understand the potential of interactions between drugs and ODS and general patterns of use. As a result, older adults in rural areas can use complementary approaches without clinical indications to maintain health and control multiple chronic diseases. In conclusion, it is important for nurses to be aware of the potential risks associated with dietary supplements for older adults. They should provide information on appropriate dietary supplements that promotes patient knowledge and prevents their inappropriate use.
In addition, strategies are needed to monitor their use while ensuring adequate nutrition and the prevention of adverse events.