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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217576
Title: Micronutrient deficiencies are associated with impaired immune response and higher burden of respiratory infections in elderly Ecuadorians

Author
item HAMER, DAVIDSON - TUFTS HNRCA/BU PUB HEALTH
item SEMPERTEGUI, FERNANDO - CORP. ECUATORIANA DE BIO
item ESTRELLA, BERTHA - CORP. ECUATORIANA DE BIO
item Tucker, Katherine
item RODRIGUEZ, ALICIA - CORP. ECUATORIANA DE BIO
item EGAS, JOSEFINA - CORP. ECUATORIANA DE BIO
item Dallal, Gerald
item Selhub, Jacob
item GRIFFITHS, JEFFREY - TUFTS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
item Meydani, Simin

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2008
Publication Date: 2/1/2009
Citation: Hamer, D.H., Sempertegui, F., Estrella, B., Tucker, K., Rodriguez, A., Egas, J., Dallal, G., Selhub, J., Griffiths, J.K., Meydani, S. 2009. Micronutrient deficiencies are associated with impaired immune response and higher burden of respiratory infections in elderly Ecuadorians. Journal of Nutrition. 139:113-119.

Interpretive Summary: Increase of population over 60 years of age continues to rise in developed and developing countries like Latin America. In so doing, health care costs are expected to rise as well; therefore, it is important to develop and test low-cost, simple nutritional and behavioral changes to improve nutrition, strengthen immune function, and minimize the risk of infectious disease in the elderly. We performed a cross-sectional study of elderly Ecuadorians in a low-income community of Quito, Ecuador to define the occurrence of infectious diseases and nutritional deficiencies. Our study included body measurements, immune response tests using DTH-delayed-type hypersensitivity-blood levels of various nutrients, and immune system function. Deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals place elderly at risk for infectious disease due to their negative impact on the immune systems function. Because the elderly have a decreased ability to fight disease without adequate nutritional, economical and social support, it is important to define all of the nutritional needs to support the aging immune system given its natural deterioration as aging occurs. This knowledge is crucial for all elderly but especially in the developing countries where resources for this support are fewer than in developed countries.

Technical Abstract: The proportion of the population in Latin America above the age of 60 is expected to rise substantially. To better define the prevalence of infectious diseases and micronutrient deficiencies, to assess immunological status, and to evaluate associations between nutritional status and infection, we performed a cross-sectional study of elderly Ecuadorians in a low-income peri-urban community in Quito, Ecuador. Culturally adapted questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing, and phlebotomy for micronutrient and immunological assays were performed in randomly selected Ecuadorians, aged greater or equal to65 years. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were developed to assess relationships between micronutrient concentrations and history of infection, DTH, and immune function. Participants (N equals 352; mean age 74.4 years) recalled recent episodes of colds/influenza-like syndromes (62.8 percent), cough (61.0 percent), urinary tract infection (37.9 percent), diarrhea (32.2 percent), fever (24.1 percent, and pneumonia (3.5 percent. A prospective sub-study of respiratory infections revealed similar findings. Colds and pneumonia occurred in 42.8 percent and 7.9 percent of participants, respectively, during 737 person-weeks of observation. Micronutrient deficiencies, especially for vitamins C, D, B6, and B12, folic acid, and zinc were common as was anemia. Plasma vitamin C was significantly associated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma, P less than 0.01); and zinc with IFN-gamma and interleukin-2 (each P is less than 0.0001). History of respiratory infection was associated with micronutrient deficiency (P is less than 0.0001). The burden of infectious diseases, micronutrient deficiencies, and anemia was substantial in this elderly Ecuadorian population. Deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals place these elderly adults at risk for infections through their negative impact on immune function.