Zinc Supplementation May Lower the Incidence of Infections ... in Elderly Subjects

[Guest guest]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own

opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic. If you do not wish to

receive these posts, set your email filter to filter out any messages

coming from @nutritionucanlivewith.com and the program will remove

anything coming from me.

---------------------------------------------------------

Zinc Supplementation May Lower the Incidence of Infections and Exert

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in Elderly Subjects

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Zinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in

the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative

stress, " Am J Clin Nutr, 2007; 85(3): 837-844. (Address: AS Prasad,

Wayne State University School of Medicine, 1122 Elliman Building, 421

East Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. E-Mail: prasada@... ).

Summary: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

involving 50 healthy elderly subjects aged 55-87 years and 31 young

adults, results indicate that supplementation with zinc may exert

antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and lower the incidence of

infections. The elderly subjects were randomized to receive zinc

gluconate (45 mg elemental zinc/day) or placebo (n=25) for a period of

12 months. At baseline, the elderly subjects showed significantly lower

plasma zinc, higher ex vivo generation of inflammatory cytokines and

interleukin 10, and higher plasma oxidative stress markers and

endothelial cell adhesion molecules, compared to the young adults. At

intervention end, the incidence of infections and ex vivo generation of

tumor necrosis factor alpha and plasma oxidative stress markers were

found to be significantly lower in the zinc-supplemented group, compared

to the placebo group. Additionally, plasma zinc and

phytohemagglutin-induced interleukin 2 mRNA in isol ated mononuclear

cells were significantly higher in the zinc-supplemented than in the

placebo group. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, " After zinc

supplementation, the incidence of infections was significantly lower,

plasma zinc was significantly higher, and generation of tumor necrosis

factor alpha and oxidative stress markers was significantly lower in the

zinc-supplemented than in the placebo group. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/