Abstract
Background: previous studies showed that hospitalized elderly women had low Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake and concomitantly showed biochemical indices of essential fatty acid (EFA) insufficiency. Objectives: the Alpha-Linolenage study aimed to improve health parameters of hospitalized very elderly patients, aged 85 years. The objective of the Part I of the Alpha-linolenage study was to assess blood fatty acid status and parameters of metabolic disorders of these patients at the baseline. Design: from 2009 to 2011, 188 patients entering the geriatric department of Emile Roux Hospitals, Ile-de-France region, France, were included. Data on the lipid status were obtained through analysis of fatty acid compositions of plasma cholesterol esters and erythrocyte phospholipids. Results: because of our inclusion criteria, there was a high prevalence of CV disease, affecting 74% of our participants. Patients ingested an average of 1586 kcal per day. Fat accounted for 49.2 g/d. Both LA and ALA intakes were not reached, i . e . on average 5 g/d of LA vs. 8–10 g and 1.2 g/d of ALA vs. 2–2.5 g recommended, respectively. The LA and ALA blood status reflected this situation; their contents were lower than those waited under sufficient EFA diet. Conclusion: in very elderly patients a status of chronic disease may generate CV or mortality risk factors. A low fat intake, with both insufficient LA and ALA intakes might favor the harmful role played by de novo lipogenesis, Indeed, a cornerstone of dietary guidelines, i . e . restriction of fat and saturated fat, may be related to risk of disease. The second part of the alpha-linolenage study will aim to improve markers of the metabolic disorders by providing sufficiently lipids.
Highlights
Frailty presents as a declined ability to respond to stressful events and an increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes (Fried et al, 2001)
As insulin resistance may be modified by age, malnutrition, inflammation and chronic disease, the association between malnutrition, inflammation and type 2 diabetes becomes more frequent in older subjects
Modifications in membrane lipid status have been reported in ageing populations (Schmuck et al, 1998; Babin et al, 1999). These modifications may be due to inadequate lipid nutrient intake, altered fatty acid metabolism, increased lipoperoxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), reflected by metabolic disorders, such as dysglycemia, dyslipoproteinemia, dyslipidemia and chronic low grade inflammation
Summary
Frailty presents as a declined ability to respond to stressful events and an increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes (Fried et al, 2001). A recent study showed the complex associations between metabolic syndrome and frailty (Lin et al, 2015) Risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance have been extensively studied in young adults. In very old patients, positive associations between total mortality and high insulin sensitivity have been observed in prior studies (Protogerou et al, 2007; Vischer et al, 2009) This surprising link between mortality and some of these parameters known as favorable seems to affect a specific category of the population, namely very old subjects (85 years and more). Modifications in membrane lipid status have been reported in ageing populations (Schmuck et al, 1998; Babin et al, 1999) These modifications may be due to inadequate lipid nutrient intake, altered fatty acid metabolism, increased lipoperoxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), reflected by metabolic disorders, such as dysglycemia, dyslipoproteinemia, dyslipidemia and chronic low grade inflammation
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