Healthy mature adults who took zinc had fewer infections than those who took a placebo in a new study. Researchers recruited 50 healthy men and women of all ethnic backgrounds from a senior center, aged 55 to 87, who took 45 mg of elemental zinc per day, or a placebo, for 12 months. Compared to a group of younger adults at the start of the study, participants had significantly lower blood-fluid (plasma) levels of zinc, and higher levels of inflammation and cell damage (oxidative stress). By the end of the study, compared to placebo, the zinc group had had fewer infections, reduced levels of inflammation, and less oxidative stress.

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 2007;Vol. 85, No. 3, 837-44.

Cystic Fibrosis

Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who took betaine, choline, or lecithin had improved metabolism in a new study. Researchers recruited 35 children with CF who took 3 grams of betaine, 2 grams of choline, or 2 grams of lecithin per day for 14 days. In CF, thick mucus clogs the respiratory tract, making the lung susceptible to infection, and the body is missing fat-digesting enzymes, leading to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients. Researchers measured an increase in several signs of healthy cell activity, leading the doctors to conclude that betaine, choline, and lecithin helped rebalance essential metabolic functions in children with CF.

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 2007;Vol. 85, No. 3, 702-8.

Tags: betaine, cell, choline, cystic fibrosis, infection, lecithin, plasma, zinc

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