Aging, Nutritional Status, and Infection in the Developing World

Abstract

The fast rate of increase in the number of older people in less-developed countries threatens to further strain the limited health resources of these countries. However, very little is known about their health status and the risk factors that contribute to it. In this article, we review the burden of infectious diseases in elderly people in less-developed countries, discuss the contribution of nutrition and immune response to morbidity and mortality, identify gaps in current knowledge, and suggest strategies to address this fast-growing public health problem.

Aging of the Immune System as a Prognostic Factor for Human Longevity

“…The above hypothesis requires rigorous testing in humans, from which the performance of longitudinal studies with detailed immunological and non-immunological follow-up and cause-of-death data are urgently required. The different strategies to restore age-associated immune dysfunctions are shown (57,70,91,102). An increase or activation of the pathway/process is represented by + and a decrease/inhibition by -.…”

“…Although nutrition, immune function, and infection are clearly interrelated, it is no simple matter to quantify these relationships (70). Some agents used in intervention studies are listed in Table 2.…”

Intestinal immune system of young rats influenced by cocoa-enriched diet

“…Extensive research demonstrates that diet is crucial to maintaining an optimal immune function [1,2]. During food digestion and nutrient absorption, the small intestine is exposed to a large variety of environmental antigens [3].…”

Nutrition, health, and aging in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Older adults tend to have a higher disease burden; hence, they are likely to constrain healthcare systems in the future 9,10 . Moreover, their significant contribution to family welfare and income, compounded in SSA by their unique role as caregivers of their AIDS‐stricken children and orphaned grandchildren, warrants greater focus on the welfare of the elderly 3,5–7,11–13 …”