Vitamin, Mineral Deficiency and Poor Diet Quality in Aging

Dear Colleagues,

Aging is a gradual process which accelerates from middle age onwards. Recent evidence suggests that sufficient dietary intake of vitamins and minerals, and following optimal dietary patterns, such as a Mediterranean diet, may be protective during aging. Protection with dietary patterns is conferred through the component foods and micronutrient composition of these patterns, as well as synergy between these components.  Knowledge of the optimal requirements for intakes of micronutrients in elderly adult populations is sparse.

Incomplete evidence is accumulating that micronutrient sufficiency can protect against some of the mechanisms involved in the onset of the chronic diseases and conditions of aging such as "inflammaging", increases in oxidative stress and decreases in immune resilience. These conditions include sarcopenia, frailty and risk of fractures, loss of muscle mass and function as well as poor mental wellbeing. Micronutrient malnutrition is also highly prevalent in sectors of older populations with consequent physiological effects.

This issue welcomes submissions on the subject of deficiencies of vitamins and minerals and poor dietary patterns with conditions and mechanisms of aging: sarcopenia, frailty, risk of fractures and poor physical and mental wellbeing in middle and older-aged populations. Papers that address optimal doses and the potential side effects of high dose supplements are also welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Ailsa Welch
Prof. Dr. Sian Robinson
Guest Editors

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