NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AND PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITY DWELLING S

这个子项目是众多研究子项目之一

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in people with chronic illness and in healthy older adults. Whether these cytokines have the same negative effect on nutrient intake in healthy adults as in chronic illness is unknown. The purpose of the proposed research is to examine the relationships between nutritional intake and proinflammatory cytokine activity in a group of healthy older adults. Forty community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older and free of chronic illness will be recruited for the study. Nutritional intake will be assessed using four-day food diaries. Blood will be drawn and serum analyzed for TNF?, soluble TNF receptors sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, endotoxin, albumin, CRP, uric acid, and lipid panel. A 24-hour urine will be collected and analyzed for sodium and nitrogen. A descriptive examination of total number of nutrient deficiencies per person will be used to describe the nutritional intake of the group. The interaction among inflammatory markers and nutrtional intake will be determined by comparing calorie intake, protein intake, and number of nutritional deficiencies between two groups divided by a median split of serum cytokine levels. The effect of dietary fatty acid intake on proinflammatory cytokine activity will be determine by comparing proinflammatory cytokine levels between two groups divided by median intake of three fatty acids. This study will provide data for comparison with our heart failure patients with respect to the effects of fatty acids on cytokine activity and whether cytokines are invovled in both the decrease in food intake associated with normal aging and heart failure. This information will assist in developing appropriate interventions to improve and maintain nutritional intake of older adults according to their health status.