RESUMEN
Novel foods especially formulated and targeted for the elderly population should provide sufficient nutrients and bioactive ingredients to counteract the natural age-related deterioration of various organs and tissues. Dietary protein and phenolic compounds achieve this goal; however, older adults have alterations in their gastrointestinal system that may impact their bioavailability and few studies have been aimed at this population. Since phenolic compounds are the subject of multiple biotransformations by host and microbiome enzymes during the digestion process, identification of their bioavailable forms in human plasma or tissues represents a considerable analytical challenge. In this study, UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS-MS, chemometrics, and multivariate statistical methods were used to identify the amino acids and phenolic compounds that were increased in the plasma of elderly adults after a 30-day intervention in which they had consumed an especially formulated muffin and beverage containing Brosimum alicastrum Sw. seed flour. A large interindividual variation was observed regarding the amino acids and phenolic metabolites identified in the plasma samples, before and after the intervention. Three phenolic metabolites were significantly increased in the population after the intervention: protocatechuic acid, 5-(methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl) valerolactone, and phloretic acid. These metabolites, as well as others that were not significantly increased (although they did increase in several individuals), are probably the product of the microbiota metabolism of the major phenolic compounds present in the B. alicastrum Sw. seed flour and other food ingredients. A significant decrease in 4-ethyl-phenol, a biomarker of stress, was observed in the samples. Results showed that the incorporation of foods rich in phenolic compounds into the regular diet of older adults contributes to the increase in bioactive compounds in plasma, that could substantially benefit their mental, cardiovascular, and digestive health.
RESUMEN
Vitamin D deficiency was common in older adults from a country with adequate sun exposure. The variables associated with this deficiency provide insight into the next steps needed to characterize older adults with this deficiency and to treat it accordingly. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency among Mexican older adults. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the last wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Vitamin D levels along with other biomarkers were obtained from a sub-sample of Mexican adults older than 60 years. Prevalence was described by sex and age group, and a multivariate analysis was performed to test the factors associated with this condition. RESULTS: Data from 1088 adults over the age of 60 years were analyzed. The mean serum vitamin D level was 23.1 ± 8.1 ng/mL and was significantly higher among men than women (25.6 ± 0.6 and 22.8 ± 0.5 ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001). In total, 37.3% (n = 406) presented with vitamin D deficiency, 65% of whom were women. Low 25-(OH)-vitamin D levels were associated with female sex (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.59-2.42), current smoking (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.47-3.39), education (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.06-1.13), physical activity (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.31-2.23), and high levels of glycated hemoglobin (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in Mexican older adults and was associated with a number of factors, indicating the multifactorial causality of this deficiency.