Effect of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Immune Function in the Elderly (ADIT)

Queen's University Belfast

Status: Completed

Conditions: Immune Function

Treatments: Behavioral: 2 portions; Behavioral: 5 portions

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00858728

06/NIR03/64

Details and patient eligibility

About

The immune system undergoes a range of changes as individuals become elderly. These may manifest as an increasing susceptibility to infection or a tendency to develop autoimmune or malignant disease. Multiple underlying factors contribute to this phenomenon of immunological aging, and in this study the investigators will examine the possibility that inadequate diet may be one such contributing factor. Fruit and vegetable intake, which can be low in the elderly, is associated with reduced chronic disease risk. This proposal will test the hypothesis that increased fruit and vegetable intake may positively affect clinically relevant measures of immune function. One hundred healthy volunteers aged 65-85 years following a low fruit and vegetable diet (<=2 portions/d) will be recruited and randomised to continue following their normal diet, or to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables daily for 16 weeks. Immune function and biochemical markers of nutritional status will be assessed before and after the intervention period.

Enrollment: 83 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 65-85 years
• Habitual consumption of fruit and vegetables <= 2 portions daily

Exclusion criteria

• Those on special diets, taking nutritional supplements or medications known to affect immune function or absorption of nutrients
• Excessive alcohol consumption (>28 U/week men or >21 U/week women)
• BMI>35 kg/m2
• History of diabetes or dementia
• Pneumovax II vaccination within previous 2 years
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Any other problem which would prevent adherence to a high fruit and vegetable diet
• Recent infection (<3 weeks since completion of any antibiotic course or symptoms of viral illness)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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83 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

5 portions fruit and vegetables/day

Treatment:

Behavioral: 5 portions

2

Other group

Description:

2 portions fruit and vegetables/day

Treatment:

Behavioral: 2 portions