Healthy ageing: the natural consequences of good nutrition—a conference report

Abstract

Many countries are witnessing a marked increase in longevity and with this increased lifespan and the desire for healthy ageing, many, however, suffer from the opposite including mental and physical deterioration, lost productivity and quality of life, and increased medical costs. While adequate nutrition is fundamental for good health, it remains unclear what impact various dietary interventions may have on prolonging good quality of life. Studies which span age, geography and income all suggest that access to quality foods, host immunity and response to inflammation/infections, impaired senses (i.e., sight, taste, smell) or mobility are all factors which can limit intake or increase the body’s need for specific micronutrients. New clinical studies of healthy ageing are needed and quantitative biomarkers are an essential component, particularly tools which can measure improvements in physiological integrity throughout life, thought to be a primary contributor to a long and productive life (a healthy “lifespan”). A framework for progress has recently been proposed in a WHO report which takes a broad, person-centered focus on healthy ageing, emphasizing the need to better understand an individual’s intrinsic capacity, their functional abilities at various life stages, and the impact by mental, and physical health, and the environments they inhabit.

Effectiveness of <em>Cucumis sativus</em> extract versus glucosamine-chondroitin in the management of moderate osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

“…These results are consistent with improvement in VAS scores previously reported using a combination of 1,500 mg of glucosamine HCl, 1,200 mg of CS, and 28 mg of manganese ascorbate administered to 34 male military personnel with knee OA. 26 …”

“… 11 , 22 The use of an avocado and soy bean extract known as Avocado/soybean unsaponifiable in the management of OA has also been reported. 23 , 24 Other examples of tested natural products include capsaicin derived from hot chili peppers tested in an RCT, Devil’s claw from Harpagophytum procumbens extract and ginger extracts, 25 , 26 as well as phenolic compounds based on olive trees used in combination with moderate physical activities. 26 …”

Measuring health promotion: translating science into policy

“…Over the last four years, the Council for Responsible Nutrition-International (CRN-I) has endeavored to significantly add to the body of science through their focus on orchestrating and moderating a series of expert presentations, with concomitant publications, held at the annual Codex Alimentarius (Codex) Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU). The most recent topics are inter-related and have covered optimal nutrition [54], healthy ageing [28,37], and in this most recent iteration, concepts around health promotion. These previous publications included perspectives from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the symposium which spawned this conference report was also presented against a backdrop of the WHO's activities from the Department on Health Promotion, summarized here from publicly available WHO materials.…”

From lifespan to healthspan: the role of nutrition in healthy ageing

“…Adequate physical activity, optimal nutrition, restorative sleep, and the minimisation of personal risk factors are all critical to a healthy lifespan. The WHO report on healthy ageing (1,2) notes that within intrinsic capacity, an individual has countless choices that lead to good health (or lack thereof) both now and later in life (3)(4)(5) .…”