Nutritional status and immune function in an elderly population

• Main Author: Roebothan, Barbara Vera, 1956-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Faculty of Medicine.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: Older people > Nutrition; Cellular immunity; Immunity > Nutritional aspects; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/62292

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1992. Medicine Bibliography: leaves 213-259 It has been suggested that nutrition and immunology are integrally related. It has also been suggested that many of the elderly have both a depressed immune response and a poor nutritional status. We proposed to improve the immune response of some nutritionally deficient seniors by improving their nutritional status. -- 205 healthy elderly volunteers were assessed for their nutritional status in regards to protein/calories, zinc, iron, folacin, and vitamin B12. The assessment composed of anthropometric (height, weight, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, and mid upper arm circumference), biochemical (serum albumin, serum prealbumin, and serum zinc), hacmatologic (serum ferritin, serum vitamin B12, serum folacin, haemoglobin, and haematocrit), and clinical examinations. Dietary intake was also recorded. -- 66 (32.2%) of these individuals showed signs of malnutrition. 14 (6.8%) showed signs of multiple deficiency. Deficiencies of all nutrients monitored were found in the subject group. Protein/calorie malnutrition was the most prevalent at 13.2%. Folacin and vitamin B12 deficiencies were the least prevalent, both at 2.4%. The prevalence of malnutrition did not differ with sex or living accommodation (institutionalized versus noninstitutionalized) but did increase significantly with age. -- 42 of the nutritionally deficient were administered the appropriate nutritional supplement for six consecutive months. Of these, 34 showed an improvement in nutritional status. A comparison of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, complement C3 levels, and percent of total lymphocytes represented by functional T cells, CD4+ cells, and CD8+ cells was made in these individuals before and after the supplementation period, A significant rise in functional T cells was noted. -- These findings support suggestions by work performed largely on animals and other aged groups of humans that nutrition can have a significant and positive effect on immune function. -- INDEXING KEY WORDS : nutrition, elderly, cellular immunity