Nutrition and Healthy Aging - Volume 6, issue 4

Authors: Gayatri, Maria

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Quarantine and social distancing are important to avoid spreading the coronavirus. Being active, healthy and happy is a central part of managing daily challenges. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to improve understanding regarding the wellbeing of the elderly during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: For the literature review, keywords such as wellbeing and COVID-19 were searched for associations with terms such as elderly , ageing and old people . Only research published in peer-reviewed journals and written in English was considered in this study. The studies included in the analysis were only …those published between the start of the pandemic and April 2021. RESULTS: From a total of 75 searches, eight studies fit the inclusion criteria. Elderly people are the population group most vulnerable to COVID-19, which threatens their lives and wellbeing. Technology such as artificial intelligence can maintain the wellbeing of the elderly. Lockdown, the lack of social interaction and the limited access to medications and health facilities can worsen the physical and mental health and the psychological wellbeing of the elderly. Conclusion: It is important to highlight elderly care and mitigation programmes related to physical activities and cognitive psychology to prevent mental and functional decline in older people. Further studies should focus on their quality of life and the wellbeing. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, elderly, outbreak, pandemic, wellbeing

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-210132

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 249-256, 2021

Authors: Fontana, Luigi | Sieri, Sabina | Ricceri, Fulvio | Agnoli, Claudia | Pala, Valeria | Masala, Giovanna | Saieva, Calogero | Catalano, Alberto | Macciotta, Alessandra | Tumino, Rosario | Panico, Salvatore | De Magistris, Maria Santucci | Krogh, Vittorio

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To examine the associations of animal and plant protein intake with all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality risk in middle-aged Italian men and women with substantially lower animal protein intake than North Americans. METHODS AND RESULTS: Food consumption was assessed by validated Epic semiquantitative FFQs. Multivariable Cox models stratified by center, age, and sex, and adjusted for confounders, estimated associations of animal and plant protein consumption with mortality for all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. After a median follow-up of 15.2 years, 2,449 deaths were identified in 45,009 participants. No significant association between intake of total, animal or …plant protein and mortality was found in the fully adjusted models. Substitution of plant protein for animal protein was inversely associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24–0.92) only in people with at least 1 unhealthy lifestyle risk factor and poor adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Participants in the highest quintile group of animal protein intake had higher glucose, total and LDL cholesterol levels than those in the lowest quintile. In contrast, higher plant protein intake was negatively associated with fasting insulin and cholesterol, despite higher BMI, physical inactivity and starch consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing plant protein for animal protein was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality among individuals with unhealthy lifestyle risk factors. High animal but not plant protein intake is associated with impaired fasting glucose and hypercholesterolemia, despite lower calorie and carbohydrate intake, suggesting that protein source plays crucial roles in modulating cardiometabolic health independently of body weight. Show more

Keywords: Protein intake, animal protein, vegetable protein, mortality, cardiovascular disease, lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, cholesterol

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-210145

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 257-268, 2021

Authors: Al Bataineh, Mohammad Tahseen | Alzaatreh, Ayman | Hajjo, Rima | Banimfreg, Bayan Hassan | Dash, Nihar Ranjan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Age-related alterations in the composition and function of gut microbiota may influence human health and disease mechanisms. However, connections between compositional changes in gut bacterial and fungal communities, and their role in the aging process, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Compare the gut microbiota and mycobiota composition in different age groups and evaluate the functionality. METHODS: In this study, we performed 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene-based microbial profiling analysis and shotgun metagenomics using the NextSeq platform. RESULTS: We observed a shift in compositional changes of human gut microbiota with age. Older individuals revealed a …significantly different gut microbiota profile compared to younger individuals. For example, gut microbiota composition of the older individuals showed increase in genera Bacteroides , Blautia , Ruminococcaceae , and Escherichia coli . Additionally, older individuals had significant reduction in fungi belonging to saccharomyces cerevisiae and candida albicans in comparison to their younger counterparts. Moreover, metagenomics functional profiling analysis using shotgun metagenomics sequencing data showed substantial differences in the enrichment of 48 pathways between the young and older age groups. Metabolic pathways such as amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell structure biosynthesis and vitamin biosynthesis were declined in the older age group, in comparison with the younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The identified differences provide a new insight to enrich our understanding of age-related changes in gut microbiota, their metabolic capabilities, and potential impact on health and disease conditions. Show more

Keywords: Gut microbiota, mycobiota, aging, metagenomics, and microbiome-functionality

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-210130

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 269-283, 2021

Authors: Pratiwi, Yuni Susanti | Siannoto, Melisa | Goenawan, Hanna | Sylviana, Nova | Tarawan, Vita Murniati | Nurhayati, Titing | Setiawan, Iwan | Nugraha, Gaga Irawan | Dwipa, Lazuardhi | Purba, Ambrosius | Supratman, Unang | Lesmana, Ronny

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The white adipose tissue (WAT) browning process has become one of the promising methods for managing obesity. During this process, WAT is transformed into brown-like adipose tissue, which is also known as beige adipose tissue. The browning process can be activated by several inducers. One of the best candidates is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ ) agonist. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt) is a natural PPARα /γ partial agonist that is known to contribute to the browning effect. This study aimed to explore the potential effect of nutmeg seed extract (NuSE) on body weight reduction and uncoupling protein …(UCP)1, UCP2, UCP3, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 PGC-1α levels in aging rats. Eight male Wistar rats (80 weeks old) were divided into control and treatment groups. Both groups were fed a standard diet, and the treatment group was given 8.1 mg/kg body weight/day of NuSE via oral gavage for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the levels of UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, and PGC-1α from both inguinal WAT (iWAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) were examined. We observed that the administration of NuSE has no significant effect to the decreasement of rats body weights (p  = 0.464), levels of UCP1 (p  = 0.686), UCP2 (p  = 0.360), UCP3 (p  = 0.076), and PGC-1α (p  = 0.200). Show more

Keywords: Adipose tissue, browning, nutmeg, aging

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-200111

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 285-291, 2021

Authors: Ogonowska-Slodownik, Anna | Kosmol, Andrzej | Morgulec-Adamowicz, Natalia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A healthy lifestyle provides a number of benefits, few comprehensive studies have assessed functional fitness and its association with physical activity, nutrition and body composition in older people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between functional fitness, physical activity, nutrition and body composition of women aged above 60 years. METHODS: A group of 168 women was divided into two subgroups (‘active’ and ‘inactive’) based on their participation in organized exercise. Physical activity was measured with ActiGraph GT3-BT, nutrition was evaluated with the 4-day record intake, body composition was assessed with …a bioelectrical impedance analyzer, functional fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test. RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between the functional fitness index, age and body fat in the ‘active’ group. In the ‘inactive’ group, a relationship was found between the length of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day, Healthy Diet Indicator, body fat and functional fitness index. CONCLUSION: Fat mass is of significant importance in maintaining functional fitness in women over 60 years of age, regardless of undertaking organized physical activity Show more

Keywords: Actigraph, body fat, older adults, Senior Fitness Test

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-210126

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 293-299, 2021

Authors: Albuloshi, T. | Dimala, C.A. | Kuhnle, G.G.C. | Bouhaimed, M. | Dodd, G.F. | Spencer, J.P.E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Depression is a widespread, global problem, increasingly linked with vitamin D deficiency in the literature. However, a knowledge gap persists regarding the relationship between depressive symptoms and vitamin D intake. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between vitamin D supplementation and depressive symptoms in adults (aged 18+ years). METHODS: This study consists of a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published before January 2019. Pooled summary estimates and between-study heterogeneity were examined. RESULTS: Ten RCTs (total participants = 3336; median duration = 12 months) were included. An association was found between high vitamin D supplementation …(≥4000 IU) and reduced depressive symptoms, but not in the case of lower levels of vitamin D supplementation (<4000 IU). Neither baseline serum vitamin D before supplementation, nor the depression-scoring scales used affected this association. The overall quality of evidence was graded as ‘moderate’. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation at greater than 4000 IU was observed to have a positive effect on depressive symptoms. Future efforts could focus on obtaining higher-quality evidence with standardized RCT methodologies to confirm this association. Show more

Keywords: Depression, vitamin D, randomized controlled trial, systematic review

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-200094

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 301-318, 2021