Researchers at the University Hospital Saint Orsola-Malpighi, the Rizzoli Orthapaedic Institute and the University of Bologna in Italy studied men and women ages 90 to 106 living in northern Italy, and found that: half were low in selenium 52% of the men and 41% of the women were low in zinc, and 40% of the men and 59% of the women were low in vitamin B-6. Additionally, many were low in vitamins A, E, and B-12. Those with low vitamin E also were found to have a reduced number of NK (natural killer) cells, which causes us to become unable to maintain a healthy immune system.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Am J Clin Nutrition, 71:2,Feb 2000:590-598.