ABSTRACT
The present demographic changes toward an aging society caused a rise in the number of senior citizens and the incidence and burden of age-related diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases [CVD], cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], diabetes mellitus, and dementia), of which nearly half is attributable to the population ≥60 years of age. Deficiencies in individual nutrients have been associated with increased risks for age-related diseases and high intakes and/or blood concentrations with risk reduction. Nutrition in general and the dietary intake of essential and nonessential biofactors is a major determinant of human health, the risk to develop age-related diseases, and ultimately of mortality in the older population. These biofactors can be a cost-effective strategy to prevent or, in some cases, even treat age-related diseases. Examples reviewed herein include omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber for the prevention of CVD, α-tocopherol (vitamin E) for the treatment of biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, vitamin D for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, thiamine and α-lipoic acid for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, and the role of folate in cancer epigenetics. This list of potentially helpful biofactors in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases, however, is not exhaustive and many more examples exist. Furthermore, since there is currently no generally accepted definition of the term biofactors, we here propose a definition that, when adopted by scientists, will enable a harmonization and consistent use of the term in the scientific literature.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Dementia/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Dietary Supplements , Neoplasms/prevention & control , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/prevention & control , Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics , Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism , Cardiovascular Diseases/pathology , Dementia/genetics , Dementia/metabolism , Dementia/pathology , Diabetes Mellitus/genetics , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus/pathology , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage , Epigenesis, Genetic , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage , Folic Acid/administration & dosage , Humans , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/metabolism , Neoplasms/pathology , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology , Thiamine/administration & dosage , Thioctic Acid/administration & dosage , Vitamin D/administration & dosage , Vitamin E/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Magnesium deficiency is to be expected in the population and particularly among risk groups. Magnesium deficiency can cause numerous symptoms, is per se pathological and thus requires treatment. Diagnostics is based on clinical symptoms in conjunction with anamnestic criteria and laboratory parameters. Insufficient magnesium supply is associated with an increased risk for many diseases, e.âg. metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Magnesium deficiency often appears as comorbidity and may exacerbate diseases. Physicians should pay more attention to magnesium in order to avoid deficits as a cause for multiple symptoms and risk factor for diseases. Optimisation of magnesium status may make an important contribution to the prevention of diseases. Oral magnesium therapy is safe and cost effective.
Subject(s)
Magnesium Deficiency , Magnesium , Cardiovascular Diseases , General Practitioners , Humans , Magnesium/blood , Magnesium/therapeutic use , Magnesium Deficiency/complications , Magnesium Deficiency/drug therapy , Migraine Disorders , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
A lot of drugs can induce hypomagnesemia as side effect. On the other hand, magnesium deficiency may be a risk factor for digitalis and drugs known to prolong the QT-interval and thus favour the development of torsades-de-pointes tachycardias. Controversely, the indication for most oral magnesium supplements in Germany is: proven magnesium deficiency if this is the cause for muscular troubles (neuromuscular disturbances, calf cramps). Due to this cutback magnesium attracts poor attention in clinical practice and the determination of serum magnesium concentrations is seldom ordered. Moreover, the lower level of the reference range for serum magnesium is often kept too low. As a consequence hypomagnesemia as side effect remains frequently undetected.
Subject(s)
Magnesium Deficiency/chemically induced , Anti-Infective Agents/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Digitalis Glycosides , Diuretics/adverse effects , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Magnesium/metabolism , Magnesium Deficiency/physiopathology , Tachycardia/drug therapy , Torsades de Pointes/chemically induced , Torsades de Pointes/drug therapyABSTRACT
Zinc is an essential trace element being required for numerous metabolic processes. The diagnosis of zinc deficiency is based on four main criteria, namely anamnesis, symptomatology, belonging to well-defined risk groups and the determination of biomarkers. The diagnosis of overt zinc deficiency is unproblematic in contrast to moderate states. The review presented here shall help to detect the latter ones. The pharmacotherapy of of zinc deficiency consists in oral administration of zinc salts.
