Reduced Immune Function and Malnutrition in the Elderly

• Published in: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 187; no. 2; pp. 157 - 171
• Main Authors: Abe, Koh, Kadota, Jun-ichi, Shirai, Ryo, Kohno, Shigeru, Kawakami, Kaoru, Iida, Keiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Tohoku University Medical Press 1999
• Subjects: Adult; Aged - physiology; Aged, 80 and over; aging; Antibody Formation - physiology; Female; Humans; immune function; Immune System - pathology; Immune System - physiopathology; Immunity - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Mitogens - pharmacology; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - physiology; Neutrophils - physiology; Nutrition Disorders - pathology; Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology; Nutritional Status; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - physiology

An important observation in elderly subjects is their susceptibility to infection associated with a decline in host immune function. Nutrition is also an important factor that influences host defense against infection. We, therefore, evaluated the relationship between nutritional status in 155 healt...