EFFECT OF ZINC ON IMMUNOCOMPETENCE IN THE ELDERLY

本申请涉及的假设，饮食锌的差异， 锌含量和锌营养状况可能影响老年人的免疫功能。 我们进一步假设，免疫改善的机制 这种反应既是对潜在锌缺乏的纠正， 高剂量锌的药理学（药物）作用，后一种作用 对大多数病人来说更重要。 这项研究的对象将是 老年人谁将被分为3组的基础上，初步 测定他们的血浆锌浓度（低于60 μ g/dl，60-80 ug/dl，或大于80 ug/dl）。 3组受试者将 随机分为三个治疗组：每日15 mg锌，100 mg锌 每日一次，或安慰剂。 锌或安慰剂的给药将持续一个月。 年 将在0、3、6、12和24时采集血液和毛发样本 开始服用锌后3个月。 以下测试将 评估受试者锌营养状况：血浆锌、头发锌、血浆碱性磷酸酶 磷酸酶、血清白蛋白和红细胞锌。 免疫能力将是 通过几种方法进行评估，包括评估延迟的皮肤 超敏反应，淋巴细胞对有丝分裂原的体外反应， 抗原，淋巴细胞表面标志物的评估， 自然杀伤细胞功能 受试者的铜营养状况也将 通过测量血浆铜浓度进行评估。 受试者将 监测三年的传染病，癌症， 各种原因造成的死亡。 将通过多元回归分析数据 协方差分析方法。 该研究将允许确定 锌对免疫活性的预期有益作用是否是由于 用于纠正轻度至中度锌缺乏和/或用于药理学 高剂量的锌的影响，从而提供数据的机制， 锌产生其有益效果。 评估各种 免疫活性的测量将允许确定那些最 受锌管理的有利影响。 从理论上讲， 疾病和致癌作用可能受到增强的 细胞免疫 因此，可以从一个 锌对老年人细胞免疫功能影响的研究 癌症和危及生命的传染病的发病率都很高， 疾病

This application addresses the hypothesis that differences in dietary zinc content and zinc nutriture may affect the immune response in the elderly. We further hypothesize that the mechanism of improvement in the immune response is both a correction of underlying zinc deficiency and a pharmacologic (drug) effect of high doses of zinc, with the latter effect being more important for most patients. The subjects of this study will be elderly adults who will be divided into 3 groups based on an initial determination of their plasma zinc concentration (less than 60 ug/dl, 60-80 ug/dl, or greater than 80 ug/dl). Subjects from the 3 groups will be randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 15 mg Zn daily, 100 mg Zn daily, or a placebo. Administration of Zn or placebo will continue for one year. Blood and hair samples will be collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after beginning zinc administration. The following tests will be done to assess subject zinc nutriture: plasma Zn, hair Zn, plasma alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, and erythrocyte zinc. Immunocompetence will be assessed by several methods, including evaluation of delayed dermal hypersensitivity, in vitro response of lymphocytes to mitogens and antigens, assessment of lymphocyte surface markers, and evaluation of natural killer cell function. Subject nutriture for copper will also be assessed by measurement of plasma concentrations of copper. Subjects will be monitored for three years for infectious diseases, cancers, and mortality from all causes. Data will be analyzed by a multiple regression approach to analysis of covariance. The study will allow determination of whether the expected beneficial effects of zinc on immunocompetence are due to correction of mild to moderate zinc deficiency and/or to a pharmacologic effect of high doses of zinc, and thus provide data on the mechanisms by which zinc produces its beneficial effects. Assessing a variety of measures of immunocompetence will allow determination of those most favorably affected by zinc administration. Theoretically, both infectious diseases and carcinogenesis could be favorably affected by enhanced cellular immunity. Thus, considerable benefit could be derived from a study of the effects of zinc on cellular immunity in the elderly, a group with a high incidence of both cancers and life-threatening infectious diseases.