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• α-Emitters simulation by using particle accelerators. • Effect of oxygen on the irradiation of polymers by Swift Heavy Ion beams. • Hydrogen and carbon dioxide release evolution analysis. At the end of their life, polymers used in the nuclear industry are placed in Intermediate Level – Long Lived Waste packages. For safety purposes, the amount of gas emitted by these organic materials has to be estimated. γ irradiations are commonly used to simulate β and γ-emitters; α-emitters simulation are more problematic because of experimental difficulties. It is proposed in France to use particle accelerators with ions providing stopping power values in polymers equivalent to the one of α-emitters. This approach has been validated under inert atmosphere; the question now arises of the effect of the presence of oxygen. We showed that the hydrogen release is slightly affected by atmosphere of irradiation and increases with LET. The evolution with LET of CO 2 release is dependent on the polymer: it increases for polymers with low G(CO 2) at low LET and decreases for polymers presenting relatively high G(CO 2) at low LET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research concerning the link between dairy product intake and cognition is scant while experimental studies suggest links through various biological mechanisms. This study's objective was to examine the cross-time associations of total and specific dairy product consumption with cognitive performance in aging adults. We also explored compliance with dairy intake recommendations in France. Design: The study was based on the «Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydants» randomized trial (SU.VI.MAX, 1994-2002) and the SU.VI.MAX 2 observational follow-up study (2007-2009). Setting: A general-population cohort in France. Participants: N=3,076 participants included in both the SU.VI.MAX and SU.VI.MAX 2 studies. Measurements: Dairy product consumption was estimated using repeated 24h records (1994-1996; mean=10 records, SD=3). Cognitive performance was assessed by neuropsychologists after an average of 13 years post-baseline via a battery of six validated tests. Mean age at the time of the cognitive function evaluation was 65.5 (SD=4.6) years. Principal component analysis revealed factors for verbal memory and working memory. Associations of energy-adjusted dairy product consumption and compliance with the respective dietary guidelines with subsequent cognitive impairment were examined using ANCOVA, providing mean differences (95% confidence intervals, CI) according to tertiles (T), adjusted for confounders including overall dietary patterns. Results: Total dairy product consumption was not associated with cognitive function. However, milk intake was negatively associated with verbal memory performance: mean difference T3 versus T1= -0.99 (-1.83, -0.15). Among women, consuming more than the recommended amount of dairy was negatively associated with working memory performance: excess versus adequate = -1.52 (-2.93, -0.11). Conclusion: Our results indicate that dairy products consumption and especially compliance with dietary guidelines regarding dairy product intake are differentially associated with performance in specific cognitive domains after a comprehensive adjustment for lifestyle factors, health status markers and dietary patterns. Further longitudinal research is needed given the limited data available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The scientific literature supports a link between midlife adiposity and cognitive function or decline but most studies to-date have investigated only overall adiposity, often omitting important confounders from the analyses. We investigated in a cross-time design the relationships between two different midlife adiposity markers and subsequent cognitive function, testing midlife dietary patterns as a potential confounder of the associations. Design: The study was based on the «Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydants» randomized trial (SU.VI.MAX, 1994-2002) and the SU.VI.MAX 2 observational follow-up study (2007-2009). Setting: A general-population cohort in France. Participants: N=2,817 individuals (1,493 men and 1,324 women) included in both the SU.VI.MAX and SU.VI.MAX 2 studies. Measurements: The cognitive performance of 2,817 middle-aged adults participating in the SU.VI.MAX (Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydant) study was assessed in 2007-2009 using 6 neuropsychological tests. Principal component analysis was used to derive specific cognitive scores. A composite cognitive score was also computed. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured 13 years earlier (1994). Associations between midlife adiposity and cognitive functioning were estimated through covariance analyses. Results: After adjustment for obesity-related cardio-metabolic parameters, higher BMI and larger WC at midlife predicted lower executive function. For example, the adjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) for 1 SD increase in WC was −0.48 (−0.97, 0.00). Obese participants in midlife showed an adjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) of −1.68 (−3.15, −0.22) compared with non-obese. Further adjustment for midlife dietary patterns slightly attenuated these associations. No relationships were observed with verbal memory or global cognitive function. Conclusion: Midlife overall and abdominal adiposity were similarly associated with lower executive functioning scores. Dietary patterns may partly explain such a relationship, arguing for the importance of controlling for lifestyle confounders in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To report the rational, design, recruitment, baseline characteristics and preliminary overview of volunteers in the ZENITH study.Design:A multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design.Setting:Clermont-Ferrand, Theix (France), Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy).Participants:Healthy men and women middle-aged (55–70 y) and older volunteers (70–87 y).Interventions:At baseline (prior to zinc (Zn) supplementation), all volunteers underwent a full clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, health and lifestyle questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, and biochemistry profile.Results:In total, 842 volunteers (378 men and 464 women) were invited to take part in the study. A total of 49% of these volunteers were excluded on the basis of inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 433 participants were admitted to the Zn supplementation for 6 months. During this period, about 10% of volunteers dropped out from the study.Conclusions:A total of 387 subjects (197 male and 190 female subjects) successfully completed the supplementation phase of the ZENITH study.Sponsorship:The ZENITH study is supported by the European Commission ‘Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources’ Fifth Framework Programme, Contract No: QLK1-CT-2001-00168.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, Suppl 2, S8–S12. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602287 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the association of general indicators of nutritional status with the evolution of health status among elderly persons living at home in Dordogne, France. Variation in nutritional intake and body mass index (BMI) among men and women; Relationship between BMI and cognitive decline; Association between BMI and the risks of instrumental activities of daily living disability.

Background: Current hypotheses suggest that intake of fruit and vegetables (FVs) protects against age-related cognitive impairment., Objective: We examined the 13-y association between FV intake and cognitive performance in a sample of French adults., Design: A total of 2533 subjects aged 45-60 y at baseline, who were part of the Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals 2 (SU.VI.MAX 2) cohort, were selected. FV intake was estimated at baseline in participants who had completed at least six 24-h dietary records. Cognitive performance was assessed 13 y after baseline and included an evaluation of verbal memory (RI-48 cued recall, semantic, and phonemic fluency tests) and executive function (trail-making and forward and backward digit span tests). Principal components analysis was performed to account for correlations in test scores. The relation between cognitive performance and quartiles of FV intake was assessed by multivariate linear regression analyses., Results: Intakes of FVs (P-trend = 0.02), fruit alone (P-trend = 0.04), vitamin C-rich FVs (P-trend = 0.03), vitamin C (P-trend = 0.005), and vitamin E (P-trend = 0.04) were positively associated with verbal memory scores. In contrast, intakes of FVs (P-trend = 0.006), vegetables alone (P-trend = 0.03), and β-carotene-rich FVs (P-trend = 0.02) were negatively associated with executive functioning scores., Conclusions: FVs might have a differential effect on cognition according to groups of FVs and type of cognitive function. Further research using sensitive and reliable measures of various types of cognitive function is needed to clarify the effect of individual FV groups and nutrients. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00272428.

Background: Antioxidant properties of some vitamins and trace elements may help to prevent cognitive decline., Objective: The aim of the current study was to estimate the long-term effects of antioxidant nutrient supplementation on the cognitive performance of participants in the Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants (SU.VI.MAX) study 6 y after the end of the trial., Design: This study included 4447 French participants aged 45-60 y who were enrolled in the SU.VI.MAX study (1994-2002), which was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. From 1994 to 2002, participants received daily vitamin C (120 mg), β-carotene (6 mg), vitamin E (30 mg), selenium (100 μg), and zinc (20 mg) in combination or as a placebo. In 2007-2009, the cognitive performance of participants was assessed with 4 neuropsychological tests (6 tasks). Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed to identify cognitive-function summary scores. Associations between antioxidant supplementation and cognitive functions, in the full sample and by subgroups, were estimated through ANOVA and expressed as mean differences and 95% CIs. Subgroup analyses were performed according to baseline characteristics., Results: Subjects receiving active antioxidant supplementation had better episodic memory scores (mean difference: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.02, 1.20). PCA indicated 2 factors that were interpreted as showing verbal memory and executive functioning. Verbal memory was improved by antioxidant supplementation only in subjects who were nonsmokers or who had low serum vitamin C concentrations at baseline., Conclusion: This study supports the role of an adequate antioxidant nutrient status in the preservation of verbal memory under certain conditions. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00272428.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic disease characterized by incompletely reversible airflow limitation, measured by a decrease of FEV(1)/FVC ratio. International consensus does not agree on a single threshold for this ratio, which can define airflow obstruction. Although the prevalence of COPD in the elderly population varies according to the definition used, it definitely increases with age and could reach 15% in those over 65 years of age. Therefore, ageing of the population should result in increased prevalence and socioeconomical costs of COPD during coming years. In France, diagnosis of COPD in the elderly is difficult, late and insufficient. Management, which has the same goals as in younger populations, has to be global and coordinated. Some points should be considered with particular attention considering the cumulative risks related on the one hand to COPD and on the other to ageing: pharmacological side-effects, decreased physical and social autonomy, nutritional impairment, comorbidities. Given the lack of specific data in elderly populations, pharmacological indications are generally considered to be the same as in younger populations, but some additional precautionary measures are necessary. Pulmonary rehabilitation seems to be beneficial at any age. Palliative care comes up against important difficulties: an indefinite beginning of the palliative stage in COPD; insufficient palliative care resources; insufficient communication; insufficient utilization of palliative care resources. Global COPD management in elderly requires coordination, best reached in health care network organizations involving medical and/or social professionals., (Copyright © 2010 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: In ageing, low folates and vitamin B12 status are frequent and can explain the increase of plasma homocysteine level. Zinc is involved in the folates and vitamin B12 metabolism with opposite actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on homocysteine and vitamin B12 plasma levels as well as red blood cell folate level in French ageing subjects participating in the ZENITH study., Methods: Apparently healthy middle-aged (55-70 years) and free-living older (70-85 years) subjects were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to three groups: 0, 15 or 30 mg Zn per day for 6 months as zinc gluconate in addition to their usual dietary intake., Results: At baseline, plasma homocysteine levels (15.2+/-3.5 micromol/L) in older people were higher than in the middle-aged subjects (12.7+/-2.7 micromol/L) and was negatively correlated with vitamin B12 values (p=0.0036, r=-0.215) and with RBC folate levels (p<0.0001, r=-0.30). These results are in agreement with previous data. However, we found no correlation between the biomarkers of zinc status and homocysteine, vitamin B12 or folate levels at baseline. Moreover, 6-month zinc supplementation did not modify homocysteine, vitamin B12 and RBC folate values in either of the groups., Conclusions: Zinc supplementation at moderate doses do not lead to deleterious effect on folate or vitamin B12 status in ageing healthy free-living people, but does not have any beneficial effects on homocysteine metabolism either.

Trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is an essential trace element involved in insulin function. Cr deficiencies result in decreased insulin sensitivity, glucose intolerance and an increased risk of diabetes. Cr status decreases with age suggesting that the elderly may be at high risk of Cr deficiency. This study aimed to provide information about the Cr content of foods in France and the Cr intake in French free-living elderly. We measured the food Cr content and daily Cr intake of freely chosen diets for 3 d in twelve French free-living elderly people and their Cr excretion and plasma hormonal related variables, leptin, insulin and cortisol. Considering the relationship between insulin resistance and oxidative stress, we also determined plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, thiol groups and total and reduced glutathione. Although these subjects had well-balanced diets, their daily Cr intakes did not reach the French recommendations. The low Cr intakes were due to the low Cr density of the foods. We found a negative correlation between Cr intakes and insulin, BMI and leptin.

Objectives: to provide information and data on food and fluid intake of free-living elderly aged of 81-86 years old residing in the south of France., Methods: using standardised methods data were collected from a random sample born between 1913 and 1918. The French study protocol again included data collection on dietary intake using a standardised modified dietary history consisting of a food frequency list and a 3-day estimated dietary record., Results: Total dietary intake was generally low as compared to the recommended daily intake for elderly subjects., Conclusion: This descriptive part of the SENECA study gives the opportunity to have information on this growing segment of the population. These results should help to adapt the dietary guidelines for this category of the population.