Category Archives: Elderly

Diet Quality and Mortality

Rather than focussing on individual dietary components, some researchers have studied the effects of entire diets on disease risk. As a result, a number of dietary assessment indices have been created in an attempt to better measure diet quality. Three … Continue reading

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Fish Oils and Strength Training

Research shows that weight loss in the elderly is associated with an increased risk of all cause mortality, especially when that weight loss occurs from skeletal muscle. Resistance training is one strategy that is effective at preventing loss of lean … Continue reading

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Age and Homocysteine

Despite mainstream medical ignorance of Kilmer McCully’s original homocysteine work four decades ago, homocysteine is now considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine is thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease via oxidative stress (although may also cause … Continue reading

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More evidence of Poor Nutritional Intakes in the Elderly

High quality diets are associated with a reduced risk of major lifestyle diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The defining content of a high quality diet is controversial, but generally includes high intakes of whole grains, micronutrients, essential … Continue reading

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Vitamin B6 for Depression?

The B vitamins are needed for energy production because they are required as cofactors in a number of key enzymes in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle such as pyruvate carboxylase (biotin), pyruvate dehydrogenase (riboflavin and thiamine) and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase … Continue reading

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Vitamin C and Vitamin E Have Synergistic Effects on Glucose Metabolism

Vitamin C and vitamin E are important water and fat soluble vitamins in humans, respectively. Because of their antioxidant effects, both vitamins decrease systemic oxidation and are therefore beneficial against diseases characterised by oxidative stress. Both vitamin C and vitamin … Continue reading

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Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Depression

The essential fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA, C,18:3 (n-3)) and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) are required for the formation of the eicosanoid signal molecules which regulate cellular function. Because of the wide ranging modulation of cellular activity by eicosanoids, … Continue reading

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Yet More Evidence of Poor Vitamin D Status

The traditional view that vitamin D is a nutrient solely required for bone heath has been largely superseded by research showing vitamin D is involved in a wide range of cellular functions unrelated to skeletal health. Clinical and epidemiological evidence … Continue reading

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More on Glutathione and Oxidative Stress

Evidence suggests that ageing and disease are associated with increased oxidative stress. The cause and effect of this relationship is not fully understood, but oxidative stress has been linked to immune dysfunction, increased risk of cataracts, neurodegeneration, obesity, metabolic syndrome, … Continue reading

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Weight Loss and Mortality in the Elderly

Research shows that weight loss in the elderly increases all cause mortality, particularly when weight is lost from skeletal muscle. However, it is often difficult to differentiate between intentional weight loss and weight loss caused by illness, which confounds the … Continue reading

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