The Effect of Zinc and Vitamin A Supplementation on Immune Response in an Older Population

Fortes, Cristina; Forastiére, Francesco; Agabiti, N; Fano, Valeria; Pacifici, Roberta; Virgili, Fabio; Piras, Giovanna; Guidi, Luisa; Bartoloni, Carlo; Tricerri, A.; Zuccaro, Piergiorgio; Ebrahim, Shah; Perucci, Carlo A.

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb01008.x

Cited by 144 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Male Balb/c 50 (C) 18 mg as zinc sulphate Increased mean survival (40) 50 (Z) C57Bl/6 mice 8 (C) 300 mg/kg of Zn for 25 d Improved thymic output (47) 8 (Z) Table 1) in the majority of the studies, Prasad et al (49) and Boukaiba et al (50) have found an increment of thymulin activity and improvement in response to skin-test antigens and taste acuity; Bogden et al (51) have reported some benefit exclusively for increased lymphocyte mitogen proliferative response; Cakman et al (52) have found enhanced IFN-g production by leucocytes; Fortes et al (53) report an increased number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes; Hodkinson et al (54) describe no effect on some markers of immunity (natural killer cells) or inflammation (C-reactive protein), but only increased the ratio of CD4/CD8 T lymphocytes at month 6; Kahmann et al (55) report reduced levels of activated T-cells and basal IL-6 release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and improved T-cell response. Using higher doses of zinc, 40-220 mg/d with different lengths of treatment (Table 1), Duchateau et al (56) and Sandstead et al (57) have observed an improvement in response to skin-test antigens and taste acuity; an improved delayed type hypersensitivity reaction has been also found in a limited number of subjects by Cossack (58) and by Wagner et al (59) ; Prasad et al (60) found improved IL-2 mRNA.…”

Section: (Z)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc, metallothioneins and immunosenescence

et al. 2010

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Ageing is an inevitable biological process with gradual and spontaneous biochemical and physiological changes and increased susceptibility to diseases. The nutritional factor, zinc, may remodel these changes with subsequent healthy ageing, because zinc improves the inflammatory/immune response as shown by in vitro and in vivo studies. The intracellular zinc homeostasis is regulated by buffering metallothioneins (MT) and zinc transporters (ZnT and ZIP families) that mediate the intracellular zinc signalling assigning to zinc a role of 'second messenger'. In ageing, the intracellular zinc homeostasis is altered, because high MT are unable to release zinc and some zinc transporters deputed to zinc influx (ZIP family) are defective leading to low intracellular zinc content for the immune efficiency. Physiological zinc supplementation in the elderly improves these functions. However, the choice of old subjects for zinc supplementation has to be performed in relation to the specific genetic background of MT and IL-6, because the latter is involved both in MTmRNA and in intracellular zinc homeostasis. Old subjects carrying GG genotypes (C-carriers) in the IL-6 -174G/C locus display high IL-6, low intracellular zinc content, impaired innate immunity and enhanced MT. Old subjects carrying GC and CC genotypes (C + carriers) display satisfactory intracellular zinc content, adequate innate immunity and are more prone to reach longevity. Zinc supplementation in old C-carriers restores natural killer cell cytotoxicity and zinc status. The genetic variations of the IL-6 -174G/C locus when associated with those of the MT1A + 647A/C locus are useful tools for the choice of old people for zinc supplementation.

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Section: (Z)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc, metallothioneins and immunosenescence

et al. 2010

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“…Below, we discuss the effects of different micronutrients including vitamin A, B6 and E, betacarotene and zinc all of which have been intensively studied (Belisle et al, 2008;Bogden et al, 1990;Corridan et al, 2001;De la Fuente et al, 2008;Duchateau et al, 1981;Fortes et al, 1998;Hodkinson et al, 2007).…”

Section: Micronutrientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of Zn on lymphocyte populations are more varied. One study reported that institutionalized healthy elderly (≥65y) subjects had increased numbers of activated (HLA-DR + ) CD4 + and cytotoxic lymphocytes after 3 months of zinc supplementation (25mg/d as zinc sulphate) (Fortes et al, 1998), while other studies 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 profiles (Kahmann et al, 2006). Zinc supplementation has also been tested for its potential enhancement of vaccination efficacy in the elderly although the results are inconclusive (Pae et al, 2012).…”

Section: Zincmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition, diet and immunosenescence

Maijó

Clements

Ivory

et al. 2014

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

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Ageing is characterized by immunosenescence and the progressive decline in immunity in association with an increased frequency of infections and chronic disease. This complex process affects both the innate and adaptive immune systems with a progressive decline in most immune cell populations and defects in activation resulting in loss of function. Although host genetics and environmental factors, such as stress, exercise and diet can impact on the onset or course of immunosenescence, the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. This review focusses on identifying the most significant aspects of immunosenescence and on the evidence that nutritional intervention might delay this process, and consequently improve the quality of life of the elderly. We would like to thank the reviewers for their careful review of our manuscript, which has been revised accordingly. Below, we have provided a point-by-point reply to the issues raised: AbstractAgeing is characterized by immunosenescence and the progressive decline in immunity in association with an increased frequency of infections and chronic disease. This complex process affects both the innate and adaptive immune systems with a progressive decline in most immune cell populations and defects in activation resulting in loss of function. Although host genetics and environmental factors, such as stress, exercise and diet can impact on the onset or course of immunosenescence, the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. This review focusses on identifying the most significant aspects of immunosenescence and on the evidence that nutritional intervention might delay this process, and consequently improve the quality of life of the elderly.

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“…The effect of zinc supplementation on lipid peroxides observed in our study was also accompanied by a signi®-cant increase in some T-cell subsets (Fortes et al, 1995), suggesting that the antioxidant effect of zinc may have affected directly T-cell proliferation. It has been suggested that the decreased lymphocyte proliferation observed in ageing may be due to the impaired activation of protein kinase C. Impaired activation of protein kinase C, could be attributed to changes in membrane¯uidity caused by increased lipid peroxidation (Eze, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Zinc supplementation and plasma lipid peroxides in an elderly population

et al. 1997

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Objective: To determine the effect of vitamin A, zinc or both on plasma lipid peroxides in a healthy elderly population. Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial supplementation of vitamin A and zinc. Setting: Public home for elderly people, in Rome, Italy. Subjects: A total of 178 residents of a Public home for elderly people were evaluated regarding health and nutritional status. 136 gave a written consensus to participate in the trial and were randomized in four groups of treatment. 118 elderly completed the trial. Interventions: Three months supplementation of the following treatments: (1) vitamin A (800 mg retinol palmitate); (2) zinc (25 mg zinc as sulphate); (3) vitamin A and zinc (800 mg retinol palmitate and 25 mg zinc as sulphate); (4) placebo (starch containing capsules). Main outcome measures: Plasma lipid peroxides (TBA-RS) were measured before and after supplementation. Results: Zinc supplementation was associated with a decrease in plasma lipid peroxides (b 7 0.19; 95% con®dence levels: 70.37, 70.002; p-value 0.05) after adjusting for sex, smoking habits, baseline plasma lipid peroxides and vitamin A plasma levels. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation decreased plasma lipid peroxides while vitamin A had no effect in this elderly population. Adequate zinc intake or supplementation could play an important role in the prevention and/ or modulation of diseases in the elderly people.

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The Effect of Zinc and Vitamin A Supplementation on Immune Response in an Older Population

Abstract: These data indicate that zinc supplementation improved cell-mediated immune response, whereas vitamin A had a deleterious effect in this older population. Further research is needed to clarify the clinical significance of these findings.

Cited by 144 publications

References 24 publications

Zinc, metallothioneins and immunosenescence

Zinc, metallothioneins and immunosenescence

Nutrition, diet and immunosenescence

Zinc supplementation and plasma lipid peroxides in an elderly population

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