Summary
This review, executed by a research institute in Boston, USA, gives an overview of different factors involved in aging in less developed countries. For instance, malnutrition and related micronutrient deficiencies account for many chronic diseases and increase the incidence of infectious diseases due to an impaired immune function. According to various studies, supplementation with vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and other antioxidants could enhance immune function and reduce respiratory infections. Interventions to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are therefore essential to decrease infectious diseases and to improve the health and quality of life of the elderly. Further details can be found in the review.
References
Dao et al.