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AUG2017 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND
STRATEGIC
R & D
Theother compromise to themuscle-skeletal system fromaging is
bonedensity reduction. Inparticular, women tend to losebonemassat
anaccelerated rateaftermenopause resulting inahigher riskof fractures
andotherassociatedcomplications.CalciumandvitaminDare twokey
nutrients to support normal bonemetabolismand toprevent bone loss.
Vitamin D is also vital for themaintenance of normal muscle function
and strength to reduce the risk of falls. In the last few years, multiple
studiesandsurveyshave reported theprevalenceofvitaminDdeficiency
in various populations in many countries. Elderly people typically get
less exposure to the sunand have reduced capacity for skin synthesis
of vitaminD.Therefore,healthassociationshavestarted to increase the
recommendations forvitaminD intake. Inorder tomeet thisrecommended
levels, there isaneed for fortified foodsor dietarysupplements tocover
gaps that cannot bemet through diet alone.
MaintainingClear Vision
Just like the body, the eyes and hence sight start to deteriorate over
time. Cataracts and age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD) are the
twomain causesof vision loss in theelderly. Dietarypigments suchas
luteinandzeaxanthinbelong to the familyof carotenoids found inmany
fruits and vegetables andbesides the coloringeffect, carotenoids also
have many health benefits. Lutein and zeaxanthin in particular are
concentrated in the central part of the retina where they accumulate
and form themacular pigment known as the yellow spot. Themacula
is responsible for central visionwhich is the ability to see clearlywhen
the eyes are looking straight ahead allowing us to drive, read and see
details sharply.
Here lutein and zeaxanthin play a protective role by increasing
macular pigment density absorbing harmful blue light and preventing
the retina fromdamage.Electronicscreensand lightsemittingcold-white
light are sources of blue light which causes oxidative stress and
inflammationwhen it reaches theeyes. Luteinalsoactsasaneffective
antioxidantprotecting importantbiomoleculesandcellsagainstdamage
induced by free radicals. Ahigh dietary intake of lutein has also been
associatedwith a reduced risk of age-relatedmacular degeneration.
So howmuch lutein do you need? Studies suggest that 6-10mg/
dayof luteinmaybebeneficial to increasemacularpigment density,but
actual intake is farbelow,onaverageatonly1-2mg/day inmostWestern
countries.
Besides lutein, a growing body of evidence supports potential
benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for eyehealth, as the retinahas oneof
thehighest concentrationsofomega-3 fattyacids in thebody.Sufficient
supply isnecessary tomaintainandprotectvisual structures throughout
all life stages. Meta-analysis of studies show that the consumption of
foods rich inomega-3 fattyacids likeoilyfish isassociatedwitha reduced
riskofbothearlyand lateAMD.Finally,not forgetting the fundamentals,
vitamin A and beta-carotene as a precursor of vitamin A, are also
essential for themaintenance of normal vision.
FromPrevention toConditionManagement
Thedifferent types of consumers in their activeaging years vary. On
one end of the spectrum are proactive health managers, open and
willing tomake changes to their lifestyleanddietswhileon theother
endof thecontinuumareconsumerswhoacceptaging lossasagiven
and would only medically treat major conditions. While prevention
beingbetter thancure iswidely toutedas the idealsolution,age-related
impairmentsarea reality.Thegoodnews is thatscienceand research
in this day and age have given us enough information to know how
the right nutrients can benefit the right people at the right time.
Governmentbodies,manufactuersand industrystakeholdersallhave
apart toplay incommunicating thebenefitsofbetterhealthand lifestyle
choices in thehope that this aging transition canbebettermanaged
over time.
Nutrition is key topositively influencing theagingprocessaswell
asmaintaining health andwell-being throughout a person’s lifetime.
In the 20th century, life expectancy has increased by more than 30
years but healthexpectancy on theother hand still falls short by 8 to
11 years. Functional foods and dietary supplements can be an
attractive option to help reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies,
enhancequalityof lifeandprevent ormanage chronicdiseases thus
making lifetimevitalityhappenwhereonecanenjoymore life toyears.
