Supplements to Take in Your 50s, 60s and 70s

In Your 60s

Dietary requirements change as you get older, and while experts recommend getting most of your nutrients from food, sometimes that isn't possible. "Our guts become less efficient as we age, particularly when we reach our 60s and 70s, and that limits our ability to get sufficient nutrients from food," says Tufts University's McKay. Supplementing your diet with these key nutrients should help you stay on top of your game.

Vitamin B12: Even a mild vitamin B12 deficiency may put older adults at risk for dementia, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. But stomach acid, which is required for the body to absorb vitamin B12 from food, begins to decline during your 50s, so the Institute of Medicine recommends getting your B12 levels checked and supplementing if necessary. Recommended dose: 2.4 micrograms daily.

Good food sources: Clams, beef liver, trout, cheeseburger, sirloin

Omega-3: DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain's cell membranes. Over the past decade, studies have linked omega-3 fatty acids to brain benefits ranging from better blood flow and increased growth of brain cells to improved mood and enhanced memory. Unfortunately, as you age, your brain cells gradually lose the ability to absorb DHA, starving your mind and compromising both brain function and memory retention. Recommended dose: 1,000 milligrams of DHA and EPA per day.

Good food sources: Flaxseed oil, salmon, walnuts, edamame

Vitamin D: For years, scientists thought vitamin D's only role was to enhance the absorption of calcium from food. Now research shows that vitamin D can reduce chronic pain, guard against heart disease, even ward off cancer. The ideal source of this critical nutrient is sunlight. Unfortunately, your body's ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight declines as you age. Recommended dose: 600 international units daily. Look for supplements that contain vitamin D3, an active form that's more effective than its vitamin D2 counterpart.

Good food sources: Tuna, mackerel, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks

In Your 70s

Vitamin B12:  As previously noted, even a mild vitamin B12 deficiency may put an older adult at risk for dementia. But stomach acid, which is required for the body to absorb vitamin B12 from food, declines with age. Since vitamin B12 is essential for optimal brain function, the Institute of Medicine advises adults over 50 to get most of their B12 from supplements. Recommended dose: 2.4 micrograms daily.

Good food source: Clams, beef liver, trout, cheeseburger, sirloin

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential during your 70s, to protect against illness and infection. The ideal source of this critical nutrient is sunlight. Unfortunately, your body's ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight decreases with age. Recommended dose: 800 international units daily. Look for supplements that contain vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), an active form that's more effective than its vitamin D2 counterpart.

Good food source: Tuna, mackerel, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks

Protein: When you hit your 70s, your ability to build muscle mass deteriorates. Plus, your protein needs grow even as your intake and appetite may wane. "Once you lose more than 10 percent of your muscle mass, your immune system doesn't function properly," says Randall J. Urban, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The good news: Supplementing with protein powders or pills can increase lean body mass and muscle. Recommended dose: 20 to 30 grams of whey protein powder mixed into a daily shake.

Good food source: Beef, chicken, beans, almonds