How to preserve healthy aging through nutritional strategies: The new approach of the Food Social Network (Food NET) project

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aging is a process that does not refer only to the accumulation of damage in a human being over time but rather to individual changes determined by genetic, lifestyle, social and environmental factors. Aging is one of the greatest known risk factors for most human diseases. An older person in good health has a good level of independence, weighs less on the national health system and plays a productive and active role in his/her community; thus, the concept of “healthy aging”, reflecting older adult-environment fit should be promoted. The interactions between lifestyle, including nutrition, and health play a fundamental role in the aging process; eating habits and eating behaviours are recognized as important modifiable factors potentially leading to a healthy “phenotype”. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary consortium with three Italian universities (the University of Milano-Bicocca, University of Pavia and University of Calabria) and Italian Small-Medium Enterprises proposed the Food Social Network (Food NET) project. Food NET overall outcome is to achieve target-specific guidelines and exact technologies for accessible functional foods, aimed at improving the quality of life and nutritional status of citizens (aged>65) of the Metropolitan City of Milan (Italy). CONCLUSIONS: This project is part of the “Smart Living” and food-related strategies aimed at responding to the needs of this target population, developing new food products, appropriate to meet the specific requirements and ensuring and promoting sustainable diets for healthy aging by effective food policy approaches.

Epicardial fat and insulin resistance in healthy older adults: a cross-sectional analysis

“…Eighty-nine free-living older adults previously enrolled in the FoodNet project [ 31 ] were considered. The mean age of the population was 71 (range 64–84 years) and most of the participants were women (71%).…”

“…Baseline data from the Food Social Sensor Network (FoodNet) project [ 31 ] were used. The FoodNet research, a prospective cohort study that lasted for 3 years from 2017 to 2021, aimed at meeting the nutritional needs of the free-elderly living in Milan (Italy) aged ≥ 65 years, by providing new food products more suited to the specific needs of consumers, as well as short- and long-term food policies to reduce their risk of food insecurity in the elderly [ 31 ]. The FoodNET project was funded by REGIONE LOMBARDIA—Research and Innovation, co-funded by POR FESR 2014-2020 (CUP E47F17000020009) and was previously described elsewhere [ 31 ].…”

“…The FoodNet research, a prospective cohort study that lasted for 3 years from 2017 to 2021, aimed at meeting the nutritional needs of the free-elderly living in Milan (Italy) aged ≥ 65 years, by providing new food products more suited to the specific needs of consumers, as well as short- and long-term food policies to reduce their risk of food insecurity in the elderly [ 31 ]. The FoodNET project was funded by REGIONE LOMBARDIA—Research and Innovation, co-funded by POR FESR 2014-2020 (CUP E47F17000020009) and was previously described elsewhere [ 31 ]. The study was conducted under the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Milano-Bicocca (protocol 410LABRA, 09/21/2018).…”

The Effect of Crackers Enriched with Camelina Sativa Oil on Omega-3 Serum Fatty Acid Composition in Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial

“…The present double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled pilot study is part of the largest Food social sensor Network (FoodNET) project, funded by REGIONE LOMBARDIA - Research and Innovation, co-funded by POR FESR 2014–2020 (CUP E47F17000020009), and previously described elsewhere ( 15 ).…”

“…ALA, EPA, DHA), a randomized placebo-controlled feasibility trial, was carried out on a group of free-living older adult volunteers (aged ≥ 65 years). The volunteers enrolled in the trial were asked to consume crackers prepared with Camelina sativa oil and therefore enriched with ALA, to test the efficacy of this functional food developed during the FoodNET (Food social sensor Network) project ( 15 ).…”