Nutritional status and immune function in an elderly population

Roebothan, Barbara (1991) Nutritional status and immune function in an elderly population. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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    Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.
    (Original Version)

Abstract

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

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral (PhD))
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/1024
Item ID: 1024
Additional Information: Bibliography: leaves 213-259.
Department(s): Medicine, Faculty of
Date: 1991
Date Type: Submission
Library of Congress Subject Heading: Older people--Nutrition; Cellular immunity; Immunity--Nutritional aspects
Medical Subject Heading: Nutrition Assessment; Immunity, Cellular; Aged

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