The role of biofactors in the prevention and treatment of age‐related diseases

Abstract

The present demographic changes toward an aging society caused a rise in the number of senior citizens and the incidence and burden of age‐related diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases [CVD], cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], diabetes mellitus, and dementia), of which nearly half is attributable to the population ≥60 years of age. Deficiencies in individual nutrients have been associated with increased risks for age‐related diseases and high intakes and/or blood concentrations with risk reduction. Nutrition in general and the dietary intake of essential and nonessential biofactors is a major determinant of human health, the risk to develop age‐related diseases, and ultimately of mortality in the older population. These biofactors can be a cost‐effective strategy to prevent or, in some cases, even treat age‐related diseases. Examples reviewed herein include omega‐3 fatty acids and dietary fiber for the prevention of CVD, α‐tocopherol (vitamin E) for the treatment of biopsy‐proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, vitamin D for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, thiamine and α‐lipoic acid for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, and the role of folate in cancer epigenetics. This list of potentially helpful biofactors in the prevention and treatment of age‐related diseases, however, is not exhaustive and many more examples exist. Furthermore, since there is currently no generally accepted definition of the term biofactors, we here propose a definition that, when adopted by scientists, will enable a harmonization and consistent use of the term in the scientific literature.

Liver Health and Dementia in an Italian Older Population: Findings From the Salus in Apulia Study

“…Even though APO-E was considered as a covariate in our models, it does not modify the effect of the association. This finding may be due to the presence of several epigenetic factors (i.e., environmental factors, lifestyle and gut microbiota) that may have influenced both NAFLD ( Frank et al, 2021 ) and cognitive impairment in aging subjects ( Morris et al, 2019 ) and then could have a hidden confounding effect or interplay between apoe4 and dementia.…”

Crosstalk of Magnesium and Serum Lipids in Dyslipidemia and Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…The potential lipid-lowering effects of Mg warrant further investigation, with a myriad of studies linking the serum concentrations of this micronutrient to cardiometabolic disorders, e.g., obesity, T2DM, MetS, cardiovascular disorders, neurological ailments, and even cancer, all of which are worldwide public health threats [ 5 , 135 , 136 ]. Mg supplements stand out as one of the most popular supplements in Europe and the United States [ 137 ]. In particular, Mg orotate supplementation, due to the Mg-fixing capacity of this salt, has exerted health benefits [ 137 , 138 ].…”

“…Mg supplements stand out as one of the most popular supplements in Europe and the United States [ 137 ]. In particular, Mg orotate supplementation, due to the Mg-fixing capacity of this salt, has exerted health benefits [ 137 , 138 ]. For example, in an RCT, patients with heart failure who were prescribed Mg orotate had better 1-year survival versus subjects receiving placebo [ 138 ].…”

Bioavailability and Cardiometabolic Effects of Xanthohumol: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies

“…In several animal and human intervention studies, bioactive natural substances or secondary plant compounds (e.g., quercetin) showed beneficial effects on parameters of cardiovascular health. [7] In this context, xanthohumol, a secondary plant substance from hops, is being discussed with growing scientific interest.…”