Premium
Nutritional and Immunological Status and Burden of Infection in Elderly Ecuadorians
Author(s) -
Hamer Davidson H,
Sempértegui Fernando,
Estrella Bertha,
Tucker Katherine L,
Rodríguez Alicia,
Egas Josefina,
Dallal Gerard E,
Selhub Jacob,
Meydani Simin N
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.450.5
Subject(s) - micronutrient , micronutrient deficiency , medicine , malnutrition , diarrhea , anemia , immunology , environmental health , pathology
The number of the elderly in Latin America is expected to rise substantially. To define the prevalence of infections and micronutrient deficiencies, and 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. Anthropometric measurements, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing, and blood micronutrient and immunological assays were performed in 352 randomly selected Ecuadorians, aged≥65 y. Relationships between micronutrients, immune function, and history of infection was assessed by multiple linear and logistic regression models. Participants recalled recent episodes of colds/influenza‐like syndromes (63%), cough (61%), urinary tract infection (38%), diarrhea (32%), fever (24%), and pneumonia (3.5%). Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, especially for vitamins C, D, B 6 , and B 12 , folic acid, and zinc were common. Plasma vitamin C was associated with IFN‐γ (P<0.01); and zinc with IFN‐γ and IL‐2 (each P<0.0001). History of respiratory infection was associated with micronutrient deficiency (P<0.0001). The burden of infection, micronutrient deficiencies, and anemia was substantial in elderly Ecuadorians and place them at risk for infections through their negative impact on immune function. Supported by NIH Fogarty International Center (1 R03 TW005779‐01A1), NIA (2R01 AG009140‐10A1), and USDA (#58‐1950‐7‐707).