What nutrient intake should be screened in older adults to identify susceptibility to infection?

What nutrient intake should be screened in older adults to identify susceptibility to infection?

• A. Riboflavin
• B. Selenium
• C. Calcium
• D. Zinc

Answer: (D)

Zinc is essential for immune defense, and its role is especially important in older adults. It supports the development and function of key immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes, and it helps maintain the integrity of mucosal barriers. When zinc intake is insufficient, immune responses are impaired and the risk of infections increases, along with slower wound healing. Because older adults often have lower zinc intake due to reduced appetite, dietary changes, or absorption considerations, screening intake helps identify those at greater risk for infections and guides dietary or supplement interventions as needed. Riboflavin plays a part in energy metabolism and general health, but it isn’t the nutrient most strongly linked to infection susceptibility. Calcium is mainly tied to bone health and calcium signaling, not immune defense. Selenium supports antioxidant defenses and some immune functions, but zinc has the most direct and well-established connection to susceptibility to infections in older adults, making zinc the best nutrient to screen for in this context.

Zinc is essential for immune defense, and its role is especially important in older adults. It supports the development and function of key immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes, and it helps maintain the integrity of mucosal barriers. When zinc intake is insufficient, immune responses are impaired and the risk of infections increases, along with slower wound healing. Because older adults often have lower zinc intake due to reduced appetite, dietary changes, or absorption considerations, screening intake helps identify those at greater risk for infections and guides dietary or supplement interventions as needed.

Riboflavin plays a part in energy metabolism and general health, but it isn’t the nutrient most strongly linked to infection susceptibility. Calcium is mainly tied to bone health and calcium signaling, not immune defense. Selenium supports antioxidant defenses and some immune functions, but zinc has the most direct and well-established connection to susceptibility to infections in older adults, making zinc the best nutrient to screen for in this context.