Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis.

Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, mental aging and reduced immune function are some of the conditions on which functional foods focus. Fat-soluble vitamins A and E and carotenoids are among the components that reportedly improve how the immune system functions.

We know that immune performance lessens with age, that fat-soluble vitamins are essential to this function and that the levels of these vitamins in the body often decrease as we get older. This reduced vitamin status may be due to dietary changes or the reduced absorption of these components.

A consortium of European scientists is running clinical studies to provide scientific evidence about the impact these vitamins may have on metabolism and the immune system during non-pathological aging in humans. Scientists have recruited 300 volunteers in Austria, Spain and France. The immune status is being determined at the beginning, and after depletion and repletion with carotenoids or vitamin E. The effect on the immune system of daily supplementation with vitamin A for one month will be estimated. Vitamin status, cytokines, immunoglobulins and complement fractions will be quantified.

Contact: Edmond Rock, UMR Nutrition Humaine UNH National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA), Clermont I, INRA Site de Theix, 63122 Saint-Genes Champanelle, France. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail].