IMMUNE FUNCTION IN AGED WOMEN IS IMPROVED BY INGESTION OF VITAMIN-C AND VITAMIN-E

We have investigated the effects of supplementation of the diet with t he antioxidant vitamins C and E on several functions of the immune res ponse of aged women. Ten healthy women and 20 women (72 +/- 6 years ol d) suffering two diseases often associated with age (10 with major dep ression disorders, MDD, and 10 with coronary heart disease, CHD) were administered 1 g of vitamin C and 200 mg of vitamin E daily for 16 wee ks. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment for measur ement of several immunological functions, namely proliferative respons e of lymphocytes to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (20 mg/L) and phago cytic functions of polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophils, i.e., adherenc e to vascular endothelium, chemotaxis, phagocytosis of latex beads, an d superoxide anion production. In addition, we also determined the lev els of serum cortisol and lipid peroxides. Intake of vitamins resulted in a significant increase in the lymphoproliferative capacity and in the phagocytic functions of PMN neutrophils as well as in a significan t decrease of serum levels of lipid peroxides and cortisol, both in th e healthy aged women and in the aged women with MDD or CHD. These find ings suggest an important role of antioxidant supplementation in the i mprovement of immune function in aged females as well as in the preven tion and treatment of specific diseases associated with age that are q uite prevalent in the developed countries.