Some Nutritional Parameters and Immunocompetence in Elderly People

Abstract

Some Nutritional parameters and immunocompetence in elderly people.
Nutritional and immunological factors in people aged over 60 years were examined. Forty-eight healthy people, 58 cases with cancer in progressed stage, 63 cases of hospitalized non-cancer patients including 21 cases with infections were investigated. As the indices of nutritional factors, hematological markers and biochemical markers were examined and as immunological factors, complement system and immunoglobulins were examined. Age-related inverse correlation was observed in total cholesterol, cholinesterase and C3 in healthy aged-people. This age-related decline was more significant among the hospitalized patients. The levels of C3 and C4 showed a decreasing tendency with age, while the level of immunoglobulins were increased. An inverse correlation was observed between serum immunoglobulins and the complement system. Significantly positive correlation was observed between C3 and each of the following parameters; total protein, total cholesterol and cholinesterase, and between lymphocyte and both total protein and cholinesterase, and between IgG and total protein and between IgM and hemoglobin in cancer patients. Normal levels of cholinesterase and total cholesterol maintained normal C3 levels even in cases of low levels of albumin and total protein.
When we discuss nutritional assessment and immunocompetence in elderly people, we will need to observe carefully the levels of cholinesterase and total cholesterol.