Elderly people are at increased risk for nutrient deficiency.
In large part this is due to diminished food intake with advanced age. However, differences in metabolism may also account for contrasting prevalences of nutrient deficiencies in older vs younger adults. Gerontologists and nutritionists are now interested in the amount of nutrient that it takes to prevent a chronic disease from occurring rather than the amount of nutrient it takes to prevent a deficiency state from occurring. Insofar as possible, the newly revised RDAs are based on the former rather than the latter. Another strong case for supplementing the elderly can be made for vitamin B12.