Search

Background Suboptimal nutrition accompanied by chronic low-grade increases in circulating cytokine levels is more common in elderly people. We explored the improvement in nutritional status, especially in the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1) and its relationship with changes in circulating cytokine levels, after providing extra protein and energy content to community-dwelling older adults at risk of undernutrition. Methods Sixty nondiabetic subjects, aged ≥65 years and living independently in a community for elderly people, with a serum pre-albumin level ≤30 mg dL−1 and a body mass index <25 kg m−2, were recruited. The subjects were followed for a 2-week pre-intervention period, during which they maintained routine dietary habits. This was followed by an intervention period, during which they received oral nutritional supplementation for 2 weeks. Results Following 2 weeks of intervention, there were significant increases in total lymphocyte count ( TLC) and insulin-like growth factor ( IGF)-1, pre-albumin and transferrin compared to baseline. Body weight and mid-arm circumference significantly increased without alteration of tricep skinfold thickness at the end of the intervention. There was a significant reduction in interleukin ( IL)-6 levels and a trend toward a decrease in the tumor necrosis factor ( TNF)-α levels. At baseline, age was negatively correlated with IGF-1 levels and positively correlated with IL-6 and TNF-α levels. The change (▵, from baseline) in IGF-1 level was positively correlated with age and negatively correlated with ▵ IL-6 and ▵ TNF-α. Conclusions A 2-week intervention with oral nutritional supplementation improved nutritional status and decreased circulating cytokine levels. Specifically, ▵ IGF-1 was negatively correlated with changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in community-dwelling elderly people at risk of undernutrition. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02656186). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]