2023-06-19 10:00:00
Books – Hossam Al-Shaqwiri Monday, June 19, 2023 01:00 PM
It could threaten decline zinc Your Immune System As we age, our immune system is more susceptible to weakening, which can lead to serious, even fatal, health problems. In order to reduce this decline, it is necessary to maintain healthy immunity through a diet rich in phytochemicals and essential nutrients, according to healthifyme.
Healthy eating reduces susceptibility to respiratory diseases because many micronutrients support proper immune function. Phytochemicals from vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods have antimicrobial and immune-boosting effects.
Maintaining zinc levels as we age
Impaired immune function increases susceptibility to pneumonia and influenza, as well as an increased risk of autoimmune diseases and cancers. Maintaining an adequate zinc status can limit the decline in immune function that often occurs with age.
Several studies have found that older adults are at risk of developing a zinc deficiency. Less than half of older adults in the United States consume an adequate amount of zinc. The problem is compounded because there may be a loss in absorption efficiency as we age.
And research suggests that, especially for the elderly, maintaining adequate zinc status may be of particular importance for preventing pneumonia. For the elderly, infectious diseases such as pneumonia are the main forms of illness – but they are preventable. In a study of elderly people in nursing homes, those with normal serum zinc had a lower rate of pneumonia and half the number of antibiotic prescriptions compared to those with a low serum zinc level.
Studies of older adults taking zinc supplements indicate that improved zinc status improves immune system function and resistance to infection. In a 2007 study, adults ages 55 to 87 had lower plasma zinc, higher oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers than younger adults. Half of the elderly took zinc supplements for 12 months, and the other half took a placebo. Respiratory infections, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress were lower in the zinc group compared to the placebo group.
How does zinc boost immunity
Although zinc has many different functions in the body, the characteristics of immune impairment as we age are similar to those of zinc deficiency, which means that zinc deficiency can be a major factor in age-related decline in immune function. Zinc is essential for DNA synthesis and cell reproduction, and for this reason, highly proliferating cells, such as immune cells, depend on an adequate supply of zinc. Impaired growth or function of various types of immune cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, T cells, and B cells due to zinc deficiency.
In addition to its role in the immune system, zinc also reduces oxidative stress, plays a structural role by stabilizing proteins, regulates the expression of many genes, and triggers hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. Zinc is also required for neurotransmitter release in the brain and for insulin encapsulation and secretion.
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