The Role of Micronutrients in Ageing Asia: What Can Be Implemented with the Existing Insights

Abstract

Life expectancy as a measure of population health does not reflect years of healthy life. The average life expectancy in the Asia-Pacific region has more than doubled since 1900 and is now above 70 years. In the Asia-Pacific region, the proportion of aged people in the population is expected to double between 2017 and 2050. Increased life expectancy leads to an increase in non-communicable diseases, which consequently affects quality of life. Suboptimal nutritional status is a contributing factor to the prevalence and severity of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular, cognitive, musculoskeletal, immune, metabolic and ophthalmological functions. We have reviewed the published literature on nutrition and healthy ageing as it applies to the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on vitamins, minerals/trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. Optimal nutritional status needs to start before a senior age is reached and before the consequences of the disease process are irreversible. Based on the nutritional status and health issues in the senior age in the region, micronutrients of particular importance are vitamins A, D, E, C, B-12, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. The present paper substantiates the creation of micronutrient guidelines and proposes actions to support the achievement of optimal nutritional status as contribution to healthy ageing for Asia-Pacific populations.

Effect of food insecurity on the cognitive problems among elderly in India

“…Multiple works of literature have shown that the FI is associated with several chronic physical health conditions [ 17 – 19 ]. Studies found that the lack of inadequate food leads to development of various chronic health condition such as hypertension [ 20 ], cardiovascular diseases [ 21 – 23 ], and diabetes [ 21 ]. Other than physical health, food insecurity has been known to impact cognitive function and mental health [ 11 , 12 , 24 ].…”

“…Inadequate nutrition caused by FI has also shown an association with unfavourable health outcomes such as obesity, anxiety, depression, and suicide, which activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and triggers the secretion of glucocorticoids in the adrenal glands [ 24 , 25 ]. The deficiency of several vitamins and micronutrients also leads to various cognitive impairment which often leads to chronic health state, like Alzheimer’s [ 23 , 26 – 28 ]. So it is important to study the relevance of food insecurity in context of elderly which leads to cognitive impairment.…”

Nutritional requirements for the elderly in India: A status paper

“…Ageing is also associated with increased risk of NCDs 12 ; this could be a ramification of unavoidable physiological changes and could be accelerated by unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and sedentary life ( Figure ). Suboptimal nutritional status, particularly deficiency of micronutrients, is a contributing factor to the prevalence and severity of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cognitive, musculoskeletal, metabolic and ophthalmic diseases 13 ( Table I ) 14 – 28 .…”

Analysis on the association of intraoperative fluid balance and short-term outcomes after radical gastrectomy in aged patients

“…With rapidly ageing population in the world and the progress in medical care, more elderly patients are undergoing surgery 1 . Perioperative fluid management, one of the key components of enhanced recovery pathways, has been widely used in surgical procedures.…”