| October
29, 2007
Zinc Helps Elderly Ward Off Pneumonia
MONDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Maintaining normal zinc concentrations
in the blood may help prevent pneumonia in elderly nursing home
residents, a new study shows.
A team at Tufts University looked at 617 people 65 and older
in 33 nursing homes in the Boston area.
They found that those with normal blood zinc concentrations were
about 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with
low concentrations.
The study, published in the October issue of the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition, also found that people with normal zinc
concentrations had a 39 percent lower rate of death from all causes.
"Not only did (people with lower zinc concentrations) have
a higher risk of developing pneumonia, when they did become sick,
they did not recover as quickly and required a longer course of
antibiotics," corresponding author Simin Nikbin Meydani,
director of the nutritional immunology laboratory at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center on
Aging at Tufts, said in a prepared statement.
The Tufts researchers took blood samples from the participants
at the start and conclusion of the one-year study. All the participants
received daily supplements containing 50 percent of the recommended
dietary allowance of several vitamins and minerals, including
zinc, for one year.
"Zinc is already known to strengthen the immune system;
however, there needs to be further investigation of zinc and its
effect on pneumonia development and prevention in nursing homes.
The next step would be a clinical trial," Meydani said.
Red meat, poultry, whole grains, beans, dairy products, and oysters
are examples of foods that provide zinc.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Tufts University, news release, Oct. 22, 2007
Source: www.medicinenet.com
Comments:
Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every
cell and forms an important component of many enzymes that
are needed for various biochemical reactions within the
body. Zinc mediated many physiological functions and plays
an important role in supporting immune system, especially
white blood cell function, by increasing T-cell lymphocytes.
The presented study discusses the role of zinc, a single
nutrient, in the course of pneumonia in elderly population.
The scientists at the Dr. Rath have shown in research and
clinical findings, that cellular nutrients are essential
for preventing or even reversing many chronic diseases -
including infectious diseases. In contrast to this research
with a single nutrient, Dr. Rath’s research shows
that it is not just one nutrient but also the synergistic
combination of specific nutrients (vitamins, minerals and
amino acids taken in the right ratio and proportions) that
provide the maximum health benefit and protection. To read
more about Dr. Rath’s research in infectious diseases
and other conditions please visit www.drrathresearch.org
and www.cellularhealthtraining.org
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