[Characteristics of nutrition in persons of older age groups in areas with different patterns of longevity]. / Osobennosti pitaniia liudei starshikh vozrastov v regionakh s razlichnym urovnem dolgozhitel'stva.

The study of actual nutrition in old-aged subjects (60-74, 75-89 and 90 years and older) in the regions with varying levels of long-living has revealed different types of nutrition depending on the climatic and geographical zones. The character of nutrition of old-aged in varying regions permits a suggestion on the relation of long-living with low energy requirements that are formed under the influence of ecological conditions (high temperature and humidity of the air in Abkhazia) and determined genetically (Azerbaijan, Ukraine). Alteration of nutrition type according to the environmental requirements (as adaptation to high temperature), decreased energy value of food approaching the nutrition type of the indigenous population (for example, the Azerbaijans and Russians living in Azerbaijan) do not ensure long-living.

[Characteristics of actual nutrition of the long-lived population of Azerbaijan]. / Osobennosti fakticheskogo pitaniia populiatsii dolgozhitelei v Azerbaidzhane.

The assay of the actual nutrition of old people living in Azerbaijan has evidenced that it corresponds to the climatic and geographical features of the region and has a direct relation to the long-living. The actual nutrition of old subjects in the Azerbaijan SSR is characterized by low fat consumption (vegetable oils among them), by low value of the ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids, by high consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as fermented milk products, by an optimal water-salt regimen, high content of vitamins and antioxidants, geroprotectors and a comparatively low energy value of the food rations.

[Bases of rational nutrition in old age]. / Obosnovanie ratsional'nogo pitaniia v starosti.

Current theoretical concepts of gerontological dietetics have been analysed. Elaboration of rational nutrition patterns for the old should rest on the age-specific metabolic and functional changes in the organism. A possibility of influencing the acid-base balance of the blood, immunity, and intestinal microflora by means of a goal-oriented diet has been demonstrated. The alimentary factors, which have been revealed during studies of actual nutrition patterns in the regions of high-longevity (Abkhazia and Azerbaidjan) and low-longevity (Ukraine), and which may have some relevance to longevity, are discussed. The necessity of the nutrition rationalization for the old has been grounded, which may be achieved by lowering food caloric protein and fat contents, by increasing carbohydrate and fibre proportions, and by saturating food with the nutrients capable of geroprotective effects, which is possible when milk and vegetable products are predominant in the diet and new food products for the old are included in it.

[Dietary services in the homes for the aged in the Ukraine and the ways of their rationalization]. / Pitanie v domakh-internatakh dlia prestarelykh v USSR i puti ego ratsionolizatsii.

On the basis of 7-day menu actual nutrition was studied in 39 old people's homes in the Ukrainian SSR in 1984-1985. The composition of the food rations was analyzed. It has been established that the nutrition in the old people's homes does not completely meet the requirements of the present-day science on nutrition for old age. High consumption of grain products, groats, maccaroni products and fats has been recorded along with insufficient consumption of vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and lactic acid products. The total amount of fat in the ration exceeds the values recommended more than by 60%; the level of simple carbohydrates is rather high, while that of animal protein is low. The authors have recommended a new balanced composition of products, meeting the current requirements of gerodietetics, enriched with food substances possessing geroprotective properties, that will promote normalization of metabolism in old subjects and prevention of age-dependent diseases.

[Relation of actual nutritional characteristics to the health status of retirees and persons of preretirement age employed in mechanical engineering production]. / Sviaz' osobennostei fakticheskogo pitaniia s sostoianiem zdorov'ia pensionerov i lits predpensionnogo vozrasta, zaniatykh v mashinostroitel'nom proizvodstve.

Actual nutrition and health state were investigated in 406 males of pre-pension and pension age (40-70 years) engaged in physical work (III category of difficulty) at an engineering plant. The chemical composition of their food was evaluated with respect to 74 chemical elements. The state of the workers' health was evaluated by the data obtained from the registers kept at the Plant medical unit. A relationship has been established between the character of the actual nutrition and the presence of an age-dependent disease, as well as the role of certain nutrients in the development of this or that disease in different age periods. A conclusion has been made on the necessity of the development of differential physiological requirements in the nutrients and energy for elder subjects engaged in the social industry, and inclusion of the rational nutrition into the complex of measures for prevention of age-dependent diseases.

[Health status indicators in elderly persons receiving various amounts of carbohydrates in their food]. / Pokazateli zdorov'ia u pozhilykh liudei pri razlichnom soderzhanii uglevodov v lishche.

The authors studied factual nutrition and the health status in 272 practically healthy elderly persons aged 60 to 74 years. Depending on the content of carbohydrates in the food, they were divided into 2 groups. The first group comprised persons, in whose diets the carbohydrate component was either equal to 45% of the average daily caloric value or was lower; the second group comprised test subjects with this component amounting to 60% and even higher. Analysis of the chemical composition of the diets of the group 2 test subjects demonstrated that the basic nutritive substances were unbalanced, and protein, vitamins and mineral elements were deficient. A close correlation was found between the carbohydrate content of the diet, which determined to a considerable degree the magnitude of its caloric value, and the health status of the elderly persons. Excess carbohydrates in the diet and its caloricity exerted an unfavourable effect on the general clinical condition, body weight, function of the cardiovascular system, the degree of changes in both lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and promoted the development of more remarkable clinical manifestations of the atherosclerotic process in the elderly persons.