[Clinical research] FILE : 2006
Nutraceutical Strategy in Aging
Targeting Heat Shock Protein and Inflammatory Profile through Understanding Interleukin-6 Polymorphism
F. MAROTTA,a K. KOIKE,b A. LORENZETTI,a Y. NAITO,c F. FAYET,a-d H. SHIMIZU,b AND P. MARANDOLAa
a G.A.I.A. Age-Management Foundation, Pavia, Italy
b BioScience Lab, Osato Research Institute, Gifu, Japan
c Immunity Research & Clinic, Nagoya, Japan
d School of Molecular & Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney,Australia
The aging process is paralleled by two- to fourfold increases in plasma/serum levels of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and acute-phase proteins. In this study we assessed the inflammatory profile and polymorphism of healthy elderly subjects and the influence of a nutraceutical supplement. Forty elderly, generally healthy subjects were recruited, divided into two matched groups, and given either a fermented papaya preparation 9 g/day by mouth or the same amount of placebo.
Treatments were carried out in a cross-over manner with a 3-month supplementation period followed by a 6-week washout period between treatments. Ten healthy young subjects served as controls. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter -174 G/C polymorphism genotype was determined together with blood levels for redox status, proinflammatory cytokines, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and serum 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) concentrations. Tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 were higher in elderly subjects (P<0.05 versus young controls).
The concentration of Hsp70 inversely correlated with markers of inflammation in -174 G/C-negative subjects (r = 0.62, P<0.05). Nutraceutical intervention normalized the inflammatory parameters (P<0.05) with a rise of Hsp70(P<0.05). This suggests that healthy elderly individuals may have a proinflammatory profile playing as a downregulating factor for inducible Hsp70, particularly if -174 G/C-negative. A nutraceutical intervention seems able to beneficially modulate such a phenomenon.
C, young controls; / A, elderly control subjects; / A+FPP, elderly subjects supplemented with FPP.
*P<0.05 vs. young controls; **P<0.05 vs. elderly control subjects.
- [Clinical research] FILE : 2006
