Aging process, adherence to Mediterranean diet and nutritional status in a large cohort of nonagenarians: Effects on endothelial progenitor cells

Nov 24, 2017Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD

Aging, Mediterranean diet, and nutrition linked to blood vessel repair cells in people in their 90s

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Abstract

Elderly subjects in the highest quartile of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet exhibited significantly higher endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

The study involved 421 nonagenarians with a mean age of 93.1 years.
Higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was associated with increased levels of EPCs.
Daily consumption of olive oil, fruits, and vegetables was linked to higher circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) and EPCs.
Findings suggest that dietary habits characteristic of the Mediterranean Diet may help protect against endothelial dysfunction in older adults.

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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been associated with a longer and better life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of adherence to the MD, and of nutritional habits on endothelial progenitor (EPCs) and circulating progenitor (CPCs) cells in a cohort of nonagenarians enrolled within the Mugello Study, an epidemiological study aimed at investigating both clinically relevant geriatric items and various health issues, including those related to nutritional status.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-one nonagenarians (306 F, 115 M, mean age: 93.1 ± 3.2 years) were evaluated. Adherence to MD was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet Score. Elderly subjects who were in the fourth quartile of the Mediterranean diet score showed significantly higher EPCs than subjects grouped into the other three quartiles. After adjustment for confounders, elderly subjects who were in the highest quartile of adherence to the MD score reported to have EPCs' levels significantly higher than those who reported lower values of adherence to the MD. Furthermore, by analyzing different food categories, it was reported that daily consumption of olive oil and a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables showed higher CPCs CD34and EPCs CD34/KDRthan subjects with not daily or lower consumption. + + +

CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that the adherence to MD, as well as a daily consumption of olive oil and fruit and vegetables, characteristics of MD, may protect against the development of endothelial dysfunction through increasing EPCs and CPCs in older age.

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Aging process, adherence to Mediterranean diet and nutritional status in a large cohort of nonagenarians: Effects on endothelial progenitor cells

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