Enhancement of immunity in healthy elderly by dietary biscuits containing functional ingredients

The aging process can lead to a decline in cellular immunity. Therefore, the elderly could benefit from safe and effective interventions that restore cellular immune functions. We determined whether dietary formula with known immunostimulate nutrients such as whey protein, soy bean, germinated wheat, Brewers yeast and Carrots, could enhance aspects of cellular immunity in healthy elderly subjects. Thirty-six healthy elderly volunteers [age range 60-70 yr] participated in the study. Dietary intake of nutrients was assessed by means of three separate 24-h dietary recalls method and food frequency questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained to determine the baseline values of CD[+4] and CD[+8] and the serum levels of IgG, IgA, IgM. The functional biscuits were given to volunteers and the same parameters were reevaluated after 4 wks. CD[+4] cells representing helper/inducer cells increased and CD[+8] cells representing suppressor cytotoxic T cells significantly decreased when measured in subjects blood after consumption of functional biscuits than the baseline. We also measured the level of serum immunoglobulins including IgG, IgA, and IgM. The levels of IgG and IgA tended to be higher in elderly subjects but low effects on IgM. Our results together with other reports suggest that improvement of the nutritional status in elderly subjects may lead to the enhanced immune function

effect of specially formulated functional biscuits on cognitive functions and general health status in an Egyptian elderly group

Cognitive impairment presented as memory loss and decreased attention is a serious problem accompanying brain aging. Also mood changes, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns and general aches are commonly seen among healthy elderly. Nutrition may play a protective and supporting role against brain aging and cognitive dysfunction and improving general health status among healthy elderly. The aim of this work is to prepare a specially formulated functional biscuits for elderly and to evaluate its effect on some biochemical parameters and its impact on cognitive function [short-term memory and attention] and on general health status and activity. Protein content of biscuits provides 20-50% and 36.6% for the daily requirements for men and women respectively.While Calcium provides 35.5% of the RDA for both sexes. Vitamin A, C and E provide 9.3%-l 1.63%, 15%-15%, 15%-18.75% for daily requirement for men and women respectively. Zinc provides 16% for men and 20% for women and iron provides 27% for both sexes. The sulphur amino acid and tryptophan are present in significant amount. Serum level for vitamins A, E, and C and Zinc, Iron and Selenium were estimated and showed significant increase after biscuits intake. There is a significant improvement in OLT [memory] scores and [DCT] attention scores after the biscuits intake; this can be attributed to the improvement in nutritional status supplied by the biscuits. The correlation between OLT [memory] scores and serum zinc and copper level are significant p=0.01 and 0.05 respectively, and between DCT [attention] scores with serum zinc and vitamin E levels [p=0.05]. Also there is improvement in mood, concentration and general activity reported by the experimental group

Rehabilitation diet using local food resources for elderly

Dietary factors other than the traditional nutrients are found in the so-called functional foods. They are becoming increasingly recognized as potentially important for maintaining good health for older. The aim of this work was to prepare and evaluate rehabilitation diet for elder by using functional ingredients [whey protein, skimmed milk, soy bean, germinated wheat, yeast, carrot and corn starch] which are locally available, inexpensive and can be easily prepared. The assessment was accomplished by feeding and comparing two groups of albino rats, one group fed with new product and the other group with the local market diet [Ensure] that is manufactured in Holland by Abbott laboratories. Protein content of the new diet was 15.2%. This percent equal to 24.1% for the daily requirement of men and 30.3% of women. Calcium provides 33.9% of the RDA for both sexes. Vitamin A and C covered the daily requirement while vitamin E was below. The fat in this new product was vegetable oil and therefore it has a more convenient fatty acid profile. The sulfur amino acids were first limited. Furthermore, the effect of the new product on food intake and body weight gain of albino rats and its effects on plasma lipids, vitamins and minerals of rats were investigated and compared these results with local market powder called [Ensure] which was used as control. The level of plasma zinc, iron and calcium were significantly increased. Plasma level of vitamin A, E and C showed non-significant increased when compared with the initial level of the experiment. Plasma lipid profile showed significant decrease in total cholesterol level at the end of the experiment. The rehabilitation new diet provide to be comparable to [Ensure] diet, meeting the requirements of the elderly people, besides being made from the local food ingredients

Studies on ichthyophonosis in aquarium fish

The present study was carried out on aquarium fish to diagnose and control the Ichthyophonosis disease. A total of 200 aquarium fish [Veiltail, Tetras species, Guppies and Swordtail fish] collected from aquarium fish breeder in Giza market were found to be infected with Ichthyophonus hoferi [I. hoferi] representing 86.7%, 52%, 50% and 40% respectively. The general clincial signs in infected fish were sluggish movements, dull colours and ascites. Different fish species showed variety of clinical symptoms before death while others were apparently normal. The post-mortem examination showed white nodules mainly in liver, kidney, muscles and intestine in both moribund and apparently healthy contact fish. Squash preparation of nodules showed pathognomonic germinating spores and hyphal formation short time after fish death. Histopathological alterations in tissue sections stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin [H and E] as well as Periodic Acid. Schiff method [PAS] of different infected organs were described. The control measures for restricting this disease were reported and discussed

Nutritional evaluation of palm oil

Six groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing 15% of either palm oil, palm olein, hydrogenated fat, frying corn oil, palm oil, or a mixture of corn oil + hydrogenated fat at a ratio of [1:1]. The physical and chemical properties of oil and fats were examined. Food intake, changes in body weight, food efficiency, lipids of liver and histopathological examination of different organs of rats were investigated. The results obtained showed statistically significant increase in body weight change in rats fed on palm olein whereas a decrease was shown for the group fed frying oil. Lipids profiles of the animals liver indicated that hydrogenated fat induced higher levels of total lipids while cholesterol showed significant increase for the rats fed frying oil. Histopathological examination indicated no abnormalities in any of the organs among the groups

Inter-relationship between vitamin D deficiency and diet restriction in rats

This experiment was conducted to try to investigate the interrelationship between vitamin D deficiency and malnutrition and their effect on growth, whether occurring solely or combined. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighed 110 + 5 gm were used in this study. They were divided into four nutritional groups according to the diet served. The first group, control [C], comprised six rats, received the basal diet [diet A] ad libitum, and the second group [M + D], received the same diet in restricted amounts. The third and fourth groups received the rachitogenic diet [diet B], that contained only 0.47% calcium and 0.3% phosphorus, and were not supplemented by vitamin D. The third group R, received diet B ad libitum, while the fourth group, M-D received it in restricted amounts. The experiment lasted for six weeks after which period all animals were weighed and sacrificed by exsanguination under ether anesthesia. The results showed that the vitamin D deficient group R, had a reduce weight gain, 46.6 gm, when compared to the control group, C, 85.7 gm [P < 0.05], though fed ad libitum. The decreased food intake was not enough to explain the decrease in weight gain. The food efficiency ratio for the control group was higher than the R group. The results also showed that in spite of low calcium intake, the plasma calcium concentration was not much reduced in the M + D, R, and M-D groups. The phosphorus intake was markedly reduced in the latter three groups and the plasma level was only mildly affected than in the control group [P <0.05]. The 25-OHD3 level was not only reduced in the D deficient groups but it was found to be also reduced in the M + D group which is receiving vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus sufficient diet [P <0.001] for the D-deficient groups and [P <0.-5] for the M + D group, when compared to the control group

Studies on lipids metabolism in rats; 2 serum lipids of rats fed on different carbohydrate sources

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 5 diets containing different types of carbohydrates. Another 3 groups were fed balanced diets having purified cellulose, pectin and wheat bran. The rats were given the tested diets for 8 weeks and their growth and blood lipids were examined after 8 weeks. The results indicated no differences on body weight gain, food intake and food efficiency for the rats fed on different carbohydrate diets, except the potato starch diet which showed decreasing levels for both body weight gain or good efficiency. However, addition of fiber resulted decreasing levels for body weight gain or food efficiency. Total lipids, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL], triglycerides and phospholipids showed significant increase for all groups tested the carbohydrate diets except the potato starch diet which showed decreased values for such parameters investigated. All the carbohydrate diets recorded high significant effect or lowering HDL-cholesterol. Addition of fibers to the casein diets recorded a noticeable reduction for all the parameters, while HDL-cholesterol showed a significant increasing levels

Effect of addition of arginine and lysine to casein diets on serum lipids metabolism in rats

The effect of feeding casein diets supplemented by amino acids on serum lipids was studied on rats. Three groups of rats were fed casein diets supplemented by lysine or arginine, while the third was fed unsupplemented diet for 8 weeks. The results indicated that rats fed lysine added diets exhibited decrease in body weight comparable with casein only, whereas those fed the arginine showed significant increase for body weight. A significant decrease for serum total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides as well as phospholipids were also shown for the group fed the arginine diet, HDL-cholesterol showed no change in supplemented casein by lysine; however, largely increased triglycerides, while total lipids, total cholesterol were fairly increased

Effect of high dietary sucrose and fat levels on liver lipids and proteins

The effect of diet containing 65% sucrose and a diet containing 30% butter fat on liver lipid and total proteins were studied in experimental rats. The feeding experiment continued for 40 days, and the results were compared with a control group of rats fed balanced diet. Results showed that both diets produced significant increases of liver triglycerides, phospholipids, total cholesterol and total lipids, however, significant decrease of liver proteins [g/100g] were noticed