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Nutraceutical Strategy in Aging
Author(s) -
MAROTTA F.,
KOIKE K.,
LORENZETTI A.,
NAITO Y.,
FAYET F.,
SHIMIZU H.,
MARANDOLA P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1404.011
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , nutraceutical , inflammation , hsp70 , medicine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , heat shock protein , placebo , c reactive protein , immunology , endocrinology , biology , biochemistry , pathology , alternative medicine , gene
: The aging process is paralleled by two‐ to fourfold increases in plasma/serum levels of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and acute‐phase proteins. In this study we assessed the inflammatory profile and polymorphism of healthy elderly subjects and the influence of a nutraceutical supplement. Forty elderly, generally healthy subjects were recruited, divided into two matched groups, and given either a fermented papaya preparation 9 g/day by mouth or the same amount of placebo. Treatments were carried out in a cross‐over manner with a 3‐month supplementation period followed by a 6‐week washout period between treatments. Ten healthy young subjects served as controls. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) promoter −174 G/C polymorphism genotype was determined together with blood levels for redox status, proinflammatory cytokines, high sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and serum 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) concentrations. Tumor necrosis factor‐α and IL‐6 were higher in elderly subjects ( P < 0.05 versus young controls). The concentration of Hsp70 inversely correlated with markers of inflammation in −174 G/C‐negative subjects ( r = 0.62, P < 0.05). Nutraceutical intervention normalized the inflammatory parameters ( P < 0.05) with a rise of Hsp70 ( P < 0.05). This suggests that healthy elderly individuals may have a proinflammatory profile playing as a downregulating factor for inducible Hsp70, particularly if −174 G/C‐negative. A nutraceutical intervention seems able to beneficially modulate such a phenomenon.