Nutrition and Immune Function in the Elderly

Meydani, Simin Nikbin; Blumberg, Jeffrey B.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-2537-4_4

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…20,21 Nutritional supplementation has been shown to enhance the immune response in older persons. 22,23 In our earlier pla-cebo-controlled, double-blind trials in elderly persons, vitamin E supplementation improved immune response, including delayed-type hypersensitivity and response to vaccines. 24,25 Furthermore, participants receiving vitamin E in the 6-month trial 25 had a 30% lower incidence of infectious diseases (primarily respiratory tract infections) compared with those receiving placebo, but this result was not significant, perhaps because of insufficient power, and infections were self-reported.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Meydani¹,

Leka²,

Fine³

et al. 2004

JAMA

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281

224

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NFECTIONS, PARTICULARLY RESPIRAtory tract infections, are common in elderly individuals, resulting in decreased daily activity, prolonged recovery times, increased health care service use, and more frequent complications, including death. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In the United States, an estimated 43% of elderly persons will be admitted to a nursing home, with more than 85% of them admitted to long-term (Ͼ1 year) care facilities. 12 Infections occur more frequently in nursing home residents than among independent-living elderly, 2-10,13 and respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. 9,14,15 Contributing to the increased incidence of infection with age is the well-described decline in immune response. 16 For example, those who have diminished delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test responses have higher morbidity and mortality from cancer, pneumonia, and postoperative complications. [17][18][19] Nutritional status is an important determinant of immune function. 20,21 Nutritional supplementation has been shown to enhance the immune response in older persons. 22,23 In our earlier pla-Author Affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

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confidence: 99%

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Meydani¹,

Leka²,

Fine³

et al. 2004

JAMA

Self Cite

281

224

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The variables considered were: body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, proteins, albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein, presence of infectious disease (with 0/1 value). 1 The sex had a nonsignificant regression coefficient.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The synergetic interaction between nutrition and immune response to infectious diseases was well documented, in particular for the elderly [1,2]. In fact, aging is associated with a progressive decline in the immune system and a greater susceptibility to infection [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Plasma Retinol and Infectious Diseases in the Elderly

et al. 2000

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This study assessed the relationship between plasma retinol deficiency and infectious diseases. The plasma retinol, anthropometric (Body Mass Index, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference) and biological indices (proteins, albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein) of protein-energy malnutrition of 63 patients with infectious diseases (ID) were compared to those of two control groups of similar age: 527 patients with other diseases (C1) and 92 healthy people (C2). Plasma retinol, albumin, transferrin and prealbumin were significantly lower in the ID group than in the C1 group. A lower body mass index was noted in men only. The ID and C1 groups had lower values for all indices (except for mid-arm muscle circumference). The ID group had lower albumin, transferrin, and prealbumin than the C1 group. The percentage of patients with plasma retinol below 300 µg/l was higher in the ID group (48.0% in men, 39% in women) than in the C1 group (25.0 and 21.5%); the odds ratio adjusted on age and sex equaled 2.46, 95% CI (1.39–4.37). It was lower than 2% in the C2 group. The results obtained with multiple regression analysis showed that, in the patients, the association between plasma retinol and infectious diseases remained significant when age, sex, anthropometric and biological indices were taken into account. Consequently, it is useful to check up the food intake habits of the elderly.

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“…The immune functions of 88 elderly people are clinically improved by vitamin E supplementation and the authors recommend a systematic upward revision with age of intake of this antioxidant (Meydani and Blumberg, 1989). A study in 72-year-old women with coronary artery disease or major depression, obtained in 4 weeks with 200 mg of vitamin E and 1 g of vitamin C per day, an optimization of the anti-infectious defenses and a reduction Of circulating oxidized fats (De and Fuente, 2002;Tosato et al, 2007).…”

Section: Antioxidants Act As a Catalyst To Prevent Oxidative Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

One Can Slow Down the Aging through Antioxidants

Aversa¹,

Petrescu²,

Apicella³

et al. 2016

American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences

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Free radicals are natural nanoparticles which are doing their part well defined in the human cell, but then they must be annihilated or eliminated to not destroy the cell or another part of our body. It has been shown that residual free radicals in the body are responsible for the aging. The role to annihilate them is ful-filled by the antioxidants. Antioxidants are a group of compounds produced by the organism or that occur naturally in many foods. Antioxidants work together in the human body to maintain health and vigor, especially during the last decades of life. They do this by protecting us from harm caused by free radicals that can destroy skin and tissues healthy cells of the organism. Antioxidants are chemical compounds with many and varied applications. Naturally present in our diet, through fruits, vegetables, tea or red wine, they are recognized to be good for health. In fact, antioxidants protect our body's proteins and nucleic acids from oxidation. In the industry, antioxidants are also used as food additives to increase the shelf life of food. They are also present in the packaging or the wheels of cars because they prevent synthetic materials from becoming crumbly and brittle. Finally, in the cosmetics industry, creams containing antioxidants are known for their anti-aging properties. An antioxidant is a molecule that decreases or prevents the oxidation of other chemicals. Oxidation is part of an oxidation-reduction reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. This reaction can produce radicals that cause destructive chain reactions. However, whatever the field of application, the unstable nature of antioxidants is a problem: The molecules degrade rapidly and have a particularly limited power of action over time.

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Nutrition and Immune Function in the Elderly

Cited by 11 publications

References 158 publications

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Relationship between Plasma Retinol and Infectious Diseases in the Elderly

One Can Slow Down the Aging through Antioxidants

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