Ageing, nutritional status and immune response.

The effects of vitamin supplementation on the age-related decline in immune function was studied in a population of elderly subjects with a high prevalence of low and deficient serum values of vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin and pyridoxin, as well as iron and zinc. The immune function was examined by measuring delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) after intradermal application of a set of 7 antigens in 72 subjects aged 60-89 years living in two homes for the elderly. The results showed an almost linear statistically significant decline in the DCH test with age (p < 0.

Nutritional status, grip strength, and immune function in institutionalized elderly.

The effects of vitamin supplementation on grip strength and immune function was studied in a group of institutionalized elderly with a relatively higher prevalence of low and below acceptable biochemical parameters of vitamin C, pyridoxine, folic acid, riboflavin, iron and zinc nutriture. The vitamin supplementation has resulted in a statistically significant increase in the level of biochemical parameters related to added vitamins, and the number of subjects with inadequate vitamin values was reduced to zero. The improved vitamin status had a positive and statistically significant effect on the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity one of the parameters of cellular immunity.