The trace element zinc is essential for the immune system, and zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. There are remarkable parallels in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance toward T helper type 2 cells, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innate immune cells. Many studies confirm a decline of zinc levels with age. Most of these studies do not classify the majority of elderly as zinc deficient, but even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Consequently, oral zinc supplementation demonstrates the potential to improve immunity and efficiently downregulates chronic inflammatory responses in the elderly. These data indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence.

/pdf/the-immune-system-and-the-impact-of-zinc-during-aging-55nfxslnbf.pdf

The immune system and the impact of zinc during aging

Brain, aging and neurodegeneration: role of zinc ion availability.

https://josorge.com/publications/Citations/IJL/009.pdf

Zinc supplementation for the treatment or prevention of disease: Current status and future perspectives

Nutritional regulation of immunity and risk of infection in old age.

Zinc is essential for the immune system and elderly people have an increased probability for zinc deficiency, documented by a decline of serum or plasma zinc levels with age. Although most healthy elderly are not classified as clinically zinc deficient, even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Several striking similarities in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance towards TH2, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innae immune cells indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence. Studies with oral zinc supplementation show the potential to improve the immune response of elderly people by restoration of the zinc levels, showing that balancing the zinc status may be a way to healthy aging. This review summarizes the current literature about zinc supplementation in the elderly and thereby defines the rationale for the immunological part of the ZINCAGE project.

Correlation between zinc status and immune function in the elderly

Thymic hormone deficiency in normal ageing and down's syndrome: is there a primary failure of the thymus?

http://rd.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2FBF02085002.pdf

influence is operating throughout the lifespan of the individual and that its deterioration may represent an important component of the aging processes 29. Conclusions and perspectives

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Thymic hormone deficiency in normal ageing and down's syndrome: is there a primary failure of the thymus?

influence is operating throughout the lifespan of the individual and that its deterioration may represent an important component of the aging processes 29. Conclusions and perspectives