Effect of Aging on the Immune Status and Trace Elements

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Biological Applications Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority

Abstract

Aging is usually accompanied by immunosenescence. Trace elements such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) are essential for effective immune function. This study aims at assessing the aging effect on the levels of zinc, iron and copper, estimating the association between their serum concentrations and markers of the immune system including immunoglobulins G, immunoglobulins M, immunoglobulins A, immunoglobulins E, interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and interferon-gamma and evaluating the interaction between the tested immunological parameters and trace elements. Eighty volunteers participated in this study, aged from 30 to 65 years. They were divided into two equal groups according to their age; the middle-aged group, aged from 30 to 45, and the older group, aged from 50 to 65 years. Zinc, iron, copper and the immune parameters namely, immunoglobulins G, immunoglobulins M, immunoglobulins A, immunoglobulins E, interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and interferon-γ were assayed in serum. The results showed significant increases of all the tested immunological parameters except for IL-4 and IgM in the older group compared to the middle-aged group, while for the trace elements concentrations, a trend towards increased values was observed in the older group. Age affects both humoral and cellular immunity, although it has a greater influence on humoral immunity. In the present study, trace elements were found to have a relation to both types of immunity especially in the middle age.

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