This study demonstrates that, even in apparently healthy subjects, age-associated immune activation indicated by raised levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines may reflect age-associated pathological processes that develop over decades.

The 4th edition of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, NNR 2004, gives the proportions between energy yielding nutrients, recommended daily intakes (RI) of certain vitamins and minerals, and reference values for energy intakes in different age and sex groups. Recommendations are also given for dietary fibre, salt and alcohol. Recommendations on daily physical activity are now included and interaction with physical activity has been taken into account for the individual nutrient recommendations wherever appropriate. For adults 30 minutes of daily physical activity of at least moderate intensity is recommended. More physical activity (about 60 minutes daily) with a moderate and/or vigorous intensity may be needed for prevention of weight gain. For children a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity every day is recommended. As in the 3rd edition, the recommendation is to limit of the intake of saturated plus trans fatty acids to about 10% of the total energy intake (E%) and of the total fat intake to 30 E%. The intake of carbohydrate and dietary fibres should increase, while the intake of refined sugars should not exceed 10 E%. The RI for vitamin A (women) has been lowered, while it has been increased for vitamin D (children and adults up to 60 y), vitamin C (adults) and folate (women of reproductive age; pregnant and lactating women).NNR is to be used for planning and evaluation of diets, and as a basis for food and nutrition policy, teaching and dietary information.

SUMMARYAgeing is associated with increased inflammatory activity in the blood. The purpose of this study was to investigate if age-related increased plasma levels of TNF-a were associated with atherosclerosis in a cohort of 130 humans aged 81 years. The elderly cohort had increased circulating levels of TNF-a , Creactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)/TC ratio compared with a young control group (n 44). The elderly cohort was divided by tertiles into three subgroups with low, intermediate, and high levels of TNF-a , respectively. In the group with high TNF-a concentrations a significantly larger proportion had clinical diagnoses of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, weak correlations were found between TNF-a on one hand and blood concentrations of triglycerides, leucocytes, CRP and a low HDL/TC ratio on the other which are known as risk factors of atherogenesis and thromboembolic complications. No correlations were found between TNF-a , TC, LDL, or the body mass index. In conclusion, the present study shows that in a cohort of 81-year-old humans, high levels of TNF-a in the blood were associated with a high prevalence of atherosclerosis.

SUMMARYAgeing is associated with low-grade inflammation and markers such as IL-6 possess prognostic value. Tumour necrosis-alpha (TNF-a ) initiates the inflammatory cascade and has been linked to several ageassociated disorders. It remains, however, unknown if TNF-a is associated with mortality in old populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate if serum levels of TNF-a were associated with all-cause mortality independently of interleukin (IL)-6 in a prospective study of 333 relatively healthy 80-year-old people. A Cox regression model was used to explore effects of TNF-a and IL-6 on survival in the following 6 years. A total of 133 participants died during this follow-up period. TNF-a was associated with mortality in men, but not in women, whereas low-grade elevations in IL-6 were associated strongly with mortality in both sexes. TNF-a explained only 7% of the variability in IL-6 and effects of the two cytokines were independent of each other as well as of other traditional risk factors for death [smoking, blood pressure, physical exercise, total cholesterol, co-morbidity, body mass index (BMI) and intake of anti-inflammatory drugs]. These findings indicate that at least in old populations chronic elevated levels of TNF-a and IL-6 have different biological functions that trigger age-associated pathology and cause mortality.

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