Elderly, rates of infection, and zinc:
An observational study by Meydani SM et al, researchers looked at the link between zinc, which is important for immune function, and pneumonia among the elderly. Researchers analyzed blood samples from a previous study that investigated the role of Vitamin E in preventing respiratory infections in nursing home residents. All of the participants received daily supplements containing 50 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of several vitamins and minerals, including zinc, for one year. Participants with baseline (n = 578) or final (n = 420) zinc concentrations were categorized as having low (<70 microg/dL) or normal (>or=70 microg/dL) zinc concentrations. The results indicate that the participants whose zinc concentrations remained low throughout that 12-month period had more difficulty battling pneumonia. Maintaining normal zinc concentration in the blood throughout the 12-month study period benefited the participants even if they did develop pneumonia. Those with normal zinc concentration had lower rates of pneumonia, fewer (by almost 50%) antibiotic prescriptions, a shorter duration of pneumonia, and fewer days of antibiotic use (3.9 d compared with 2.6 d) (P