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Biomedical subjects

P J Garry

Publications and source records attributed to P J Garry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Longitudinal study of dietary intakes and plasma lipids in healthy elderly men and women.

Dietary intakes and blood lipid concentrations were assessed in elderly men (n = 65) and women (n = 92) from 1980 through 1989. Mean age in 1980 was 70 y (range 60-84 y). Health and socioeconomic status was above that found in the general US elderly population. Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in variables were determined by using least-squares linear regression. No significant cross-sectional differences in energy (kJ/kg), protein (g/kg), total fat, and carbohydrate intake with age was noted. Significant longitudinal decreases in total fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol intakes were noted in both men and women. Significant decreases in total, HDL, and LDL plasma cholesterol concentrations were noted over time in both men and women. Ratios of both total and LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol increased over time. The decrease in total fat and cholesterol intakes were significantly correlated with the decrease in total plasma cholesterol.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Diseases and aging: patterns of morbidity with age; relationship between aging and age-associated diseases.

Patterns of morbidity with age can be schematically represented in three situations: 1) as a progressive illness, such as Alzheimer's disease, leading to a relatively rapid functional decline. 2) as a catastrophic event, such as a stroke or hip fracture, leading to a decline in function with improvement after rehabilitation. 3) as normal aging with gradual progressive functional decline. Results from the New Mexico Aging Process Study provide some unique insights about the consequences of the effects of aging on the nutritional status of healthy elderly people. Between 1979 and 1989, anthropometric and biochemical markers as well as dietary intakes remained relatively constant in this healthy elderly population. Thus, the aging process alone may have little or no important consequences on the nutritional status of healthy elderly individuals. However, the adaptation of pancreatic and intestinal function to undernutrition and refeeding can be perturbed in these individuals.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1992

Prediction of iron absorption based on iron status of female blood donors.

Iron stores were assessed in 27 postmenopausal healthy women who donated five units of blood (approximately 485 mL/unit) over approximately 1 y. The mean (+/- SD) age was 67.7 +/- 4.0 y and the average time between successive blood donations was approximately 10 wk (range 8-30 wk). Steady-state iron stores at entrance were 10.59 +/- 3.88 mg/kg body wt (mean +/- SD) and declined to 1.03 +/- 3.20 mg/kg by the fifth donation. Determination of iron stores was based on biochemical measures of iron status at each donation. Iron intakes were 23.3 +/- 10.1 mg/d. From these data we developed equations that can be used to predict the frequency at which healthy postmenopausal women can donate blood without becoming iron deficient. The ability of elderly women to become successful blood donors depends primarily on initial iron stores, iron intake, and frequency of donation. Women with low steady-state iron stores may be able to donate only two times per year without becoming iron deficient.

Absorption↗
PubMed1992

Appendicular skeletal muscle areas assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in older persons.

Measurements of cross-sectional muscle areas of the upper-arm and mid-thigh from MRI images were compared to corresponding estimates from anthropometric measurements of limb circumferences and skinfold thicknesses in 25 normal, healthy, elderly persons. The anthropometric method significantly overestimated actual muscle areas, and the amount of error increased systematically with level of adiposity. These results agree with those from other, similar studies using CT in younger adults, but indicate that the degree of error is 2 to 3 times greater for elderly persons. At present, there does not appear to be any simple way to "correct" the anthropometric method. Prediction methods may be developed, but these will still produce large errors for some individuals. Alternative approaches are discussed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Fat distribution and blood lipids in a sample of healthy elderly people.

The cross-sectional sample consisted of data for 41 white men and 63 white women, 67-92 years of age who were healthy volunteer participants in the Aging Process Study at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The variables consisted of anthropometric measures of body fatness, blood lipids and blood pressures. Correlations were computed between principal component scores, ratios of body circumferences, W/S2, blood lipid values and blood pressures for each sex. In the men, the significant correlations were of the abdomen/hip and abdomen/thigh ratios with W/S2, and the principal component scores with HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure. In the women, the abdomen/hip ratio had a low negative correlation with HDL cholesterol but a low positive correlation with triglyceride levels. The principal component scores also had low correlations with blood pressure and triglycerides. Multiple regressions were used to determine further associations between risk factors and fat distribution indices. In the men, the relationships of age and levels of body fatness with HDL cholesterol were much stronger and more complex than those with triglyceride or systolic blood pressure. In the women, only HDL cholesterol and triglyceride were associated with abdomen/hip ratio after removing the effects of overall fatness. The present findings indicate that a large abdominal circumference, implying a correspondingly large internal adipose tissue deposit, produces negative health alterations in blood lipid levels in this sample of elderly individuals. In younger adults, these changes are considered to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Meat, poultry, and fish consumption and nutrient intake in the healthy elderly.

Food selection of the healthy elderly may be influenced by life-styles, the food supply, and recommendations related to diet and disease. This study used food group analysis of 3-day diet records to examine red meat, poultry, and fish consumption by free-living, healthy elderly individuals. Dietary data were from 122 women and 97 men (median age = 75 years) who were participants in the New Mexico Aging Process Study in 1984. Mean dietary intake was 1,494 kcal/day for women and 2,079 kcal/day for men--82% and 94% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), respectively. Protein, iron, and selected B vitamins were above 100% of the RDA. Women's mean daily intake of meat/poultry/fish was 87.7 g (52.1 g meat, 23.6 g poultry, 12.0 g fish); men's intake of meat/poultry/fish was 121.2 g (78.4 g meat, 21.2 g poultry, 21.6 g fish). Of the total red meat, more than 50% was beef, 20% was pork/ham, and more than 10% was processed meat. For women, meat/poultry/fish provided 14% of total dietary energy, 37% of protein, 13% to 32% of selected B vitamins and iron, 20% of fat, and 34% of cholesterol. Percentages were similar for men. There was no significant association between age and total dietary intake, but food group consumption had distinct associations with age for women and men. Our findings indicate that a moderate but not excessive intake of meat/poultry/fish made a substantial contribution to nutrient intake. The fat contribution of these food groups could be decreased by emphasizing lower-fat selections of meat, poultry, and fish.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

A prospective study of blood donations in healthy elderly persons.

Iron stores were observed in 57 healthy elderly volunteers, between 63 and 77 years of age, who donated 5 units of blood over approximately 1 year. An equal number of nondonors who contributed approximately 7 mL of blood at each visit for iron status measurements only were seen at the same frequency as the donor population. At entrance to the study, iron stores in women and men averaged 724 and 875 mg, respectively. After five donations, mean iron stores dropped to 67 mg in women (n = 27) and 362 mg in men (n = 30); four women (15%) became iron deficient, while two (7%) developed iron deficiency anemia. Three men (10%) developed iron deficiency, but none were found to be anemic. Mean intakes of iron were 23.3 and 22.5 mg per day, respectively, for women and men. Iron intakes were adequate to meet iron requirements of nondonors, but they were not sufficient to halt the steady decrease in iron stores among the donor population, in whom iron absorption increased from approximately 5 percent at entrance to 14 percent at the time of the fifth donation. In summary, healthy elderly persons may contribute to the national blood resource; however, donations should probably be limited to less than five per year or donors should regularly take an iron supplement to preserve reasonable amounts of iron reserves.

Absorption↗
PubMed1991

Characteristics of elderly blood donors.

The aging of our society will result in an increased demand for blood components, but it also has the potential to produce a large group of blood donors, the elderly. To study the effects of regular donation by older persons, a randomized, controlled trial is being conducted among 244 healthy, elderly volunteers. This report focuses on the efficacy of the recruiting efforts for that study and describes the resultant population in terms of their demographics, medical status, and donation safety. Of 325 potential subjects, 18 percent were disqualified and 7 percent refused entry into the study. After medical evaluation, only 2 persons were disqualified for conditions not detected by the usual blood services screening protocols. The resultant elderly donor population (n = 244) was well-educated, middle-income, and, for the most part, married. The group reported more past and present medical conditions, past surgical procedures, and current medications than would be expected in a younger donor group. Reactions to donation were infrequent and mild. With current screening and donation procedures, blood donation by the elderly appears to be safe and practical.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

A longitudinal study of the relationship between vitamin A supplementation and plasma retinol, retinyl esters, and liver enzyme activities in a healthy elderly population.

This study examined the association between dietary supplementation with vitamin A and biochemical symptoms of toxicity in 116 healthy elderly volunteers (47 male, 69 female), aged 64-88 y. Plasma retinol and retinyl ester concentrations, seven liver-function tests, and dietary and supplemental vitamin A intakes were measured annually for 5 y. Supplemental intake range was 0-47,000 IU/d; dietary intake range was 2528-23,032 IU/d. Fasting retinol and retinyl ester concentrations were determined by HPLC and dietary intake was assessed by a 3-d food record. Supplemental vitamin A intake was highly correlated with retinyl ester concentrations (r = 0.74, P = 0.0001). Retinyl esters ranges from 3.4% to 10.2% of retinol concentrations. Retinyl ester concentrations did not increase over time, regardless of supplement amount. The association of retinyl esters and liver-function tests was significant only for aspartate aminotransferase activity in females (r = 0.47, P = 0.0001). The supplementation amount in this study was not associated with vitamin A toxicity.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Thyroid function in a healthy elderly population: implications for clinical evaluation.

Evaluation of thyroid function in elderly people is complex and has generated some controversy about what is normal. This study analyzed thyroid function assays in an identified healthy elderly population of 216 subjects. Thyroxine, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, T3 uptake, "supersensitive" thyrotropin, and thyroid antibody titers were performed. Histories of treatment for thyroid conditions were present in 13.9% (n = 30) of the population, and test results for an additional 4.3% (n = 8) revealed some hypothyroidism. These subjects were excluded from statistical analysis. Test results revealed significant differences from younger controls as well as skewed distributions for T4, FT4, and TSH. There were no significant correlations with increasing age or gender within the elderly population. 11.8% (n = 21) of the population exhibited elevated TSF levels with normal T4 values, and 23.0% (n = 41) exhibited a titer of one or both thyroid antibodies. Current reference ranges for thyroid tests are broad enough to include the range of values seen in the healthy elderly, but some cautions are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hearing and cognition in the elderly. New findings and a review of the literature.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between hearing status and cognitive status initially and at 5-year follow-up in a cohort of healthy elderly men and women and to relate the results to published reports on this topic. Volunteers older than 60 years with no major illnesses and taking no long-term prescription medications were examined. Baseline testing of hearing and cognition was performed in 224 subjects; 112 subjects underwent cognitive testing at 5-year follow-up. Hearing was measured by the Speech Perception in Noise test; cognition was measured by two parts of the Wechsler Memory Scale and by the Jacobs Cognitive Screening Test, an oral screening instrument. At baseline there were small correlations between hearing acuity and memory scores, but these disappeared after adjustment for age and gender. Analysis of follow-up memory and cognitive screening test scores in relation to baseline hearing ability showed no correlation between hearing at entry and cognitive function at 5 years. In addition, baseline hearing level did not predict change in memory or cognitive screening test scores during the follow-up period. The power of the study was 90% to detect a correlation of .30 between measures of hearing and cognition. There was no evidence for a major effect of hearing acuity on cognitive function over time in this group of healthy elderly. Review of published studies suggests that hearing ability is related to cognitive status in demented subjects, but there is little to suggest that in the normal elderly, hearing impairment leads to cognitive decline.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Vitamin C disposition in young and elderly men.

The pharmacokinetics of vitamin C after a 500-mg oral tablet dose were compared in 15 healthy young men aged 25.20 +/- 2.54 (means +/- SD) and in 15 healthy elderly men aged 69.31 +/- 2.52 y. The doses were characterized with the subjects in two states of vitamin C nutriture: a depleted state, which was achieved by 4-5 wk of compliance with a vitamin C-restricted diet of less than 10 mg/d and a supplemented state, in which the subjects were given 500 mg vitamin C/d for 3 wk. Plasma and urine samples were collected for 72 h after the dose of vitamin C from depleted subjects and for 24 h from supplemented subjects and analyzed for vitamin C. Several of the pharmacokinetic indices measured were different in depleted vs supplemented subjects but none exhibited any age-related differences. This indicates that vitamin C nutriture affects vitamin C pharmacokinetics but age does not.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Cell-mediated immunity as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in subjects over 60.

Previous studies have suggested an association between depressed cell-mediated immunity and increased mortality in elderly persons. However, the effects of age and existing disease on this association have not been adequately addressed. We studied the association between cell-mediated immunity and subsequent morbidity and mortality in 273 initially healthy persons 60 years of age and older. In 1979, two tests of cell-mediated immunity were conducted--mitogen stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin, and delayed hypersensitivity skin testing. The study group was followed annually for development of pneumonia, cancer, and death. Anergy was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio of 2.16; 95% confidence interval [1.10,4.28]). When the results were adjusted for age, the resulting hazard ratio was 1.89;[0.94,3.79]. A relationship was also suggested between anergy and cancer mortality although this association was not statistically significant. Response to phytohaemagglutinin was a poorer predictor of mortality than was response to delayed hypersensitivity skin testing. The results show that anergy may be a good indicator of subsequent all-cause mortality, and perhaps cancer mortality, in elderly who lack other indicators of poor health.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol intake in the healthy elderly. Changes with age in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Several cross-sectional studies have shown a decline in alcohol intake with increasing age. Longitudinal studies have failed to confirm this trend, which suggests that cohort effects may account for the reported decline. To address this, both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of alcohol use in 270 healthy elderly persons over a seven-year period (1980-1987) were performed. Alcohol consumption was assessed by three-day diet records. One hundred sixty-five subjects (61.1%) remained in the study until 1987; 143 (53%) completed diet records for every year. Longitudinal analysis showed a statistically significant decline in the percent of subjects consuming any alcohol over time (slope = -2% per year; 95% confidence interval -2.8, -1.1%). A cross-sectional analysis of the 1980 data revealed a similar decline in percent drinkers with increasing age (slope = -2.7% per year; 95% confidence interval -4.4, -1.1%). Mean alcohol intake for those who continued to drink did not change over time except among heavy drinkers (consumption of greater than 30 g per day in 1980), who did show a significant decline in mean alcohol intake (P = .02). Thus, in our population the decline in percent of drinkers with age found by a cross-sectional analysis was confirmed in longitudinal analyses, suggesting that this represents a true age-related decline rather than a cohort effect.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Effects of age and intake on vitamin C disposition in females.

The pharmacokinetics of vitamin C following a 500 mg oral tablet dose were compared in a group of fourteen healthy young women whose age was 26.0 +/- 2.8 years (mean +/- s.d.), and in a group of fourteen healthy elderly women aged 68.1 +/- 2.6 years. The body composition of each subject was assessed using several anthropometric measurements in order to help explain any observed differences in the pharmacokinetic behavior of vitamin C. The vitamin C doses were characterized with the subjects in two states of vitamin C nutriture: a 'depleted' state which was achieved by 4-5 weeks on a vitamin C-restricted diet of less than 10 mg/d and a 'supplemented' state in which the subjects were given daily doses of 500 mg of vitamin C for 3 weeks. Plasma and urine samples were collected for 72 h following the dose of vitamin C from subjects in a 'depleted' state and for 24 h from subjects in a 'supplemented' state and analysed for their vitamin C content. None of the pharmacokinetic parameters measured differed significantly between the two age groups. In contrast, the vast majority of these parameters were significantly different in depleted and supplemented subjects. The peak times (tmax) were greater in the depleted state in both young and elderly groups whereas the peak concentrations (Cmax) were greater in the supplemented state. The absorption rate constant (Ka) was significantly larger in the supplemented state compared to the depleted state in the young group and the absorption half-life (t 1/2, Ka) was significantly greater in the depleted state in the young group only. The absorption lag time (tlag) did not differ with respect to age or nutritional status. The elimination half-life (t 1/2, Ke) was significantly longer in supplemented subjects. Although the apparent high volume of distribution (Vd) was not significantly different within each age group the Vd was significantly greater in the depleted state when the two age groups were combined. The clearance (CL), and the nonrenal clearance (CLNR) were significantly greater in the depleted state. The renal clearance (CLR) and the amounts of vitamin C excreted in the 0- to 12- and 12- to 24-h intervals were significantly larger in the supplemented state. The urinary excretion data also indicate that, in supplemented subjects, an average of about 40 percent of the administered dose is excreted as unchanged vitamin C in the first 12 h after dosing, with very little being excreted thereafter.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The management of breast feeding among infants with phenylketonuria.

Treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU) involves using low phenylalanine-free or phenylalanine-free formulas and supplementation with sufficient phenylalanine for normal growth and development. Eighteen infants with phenylketonuria who received breast milk as their primary phenylalanine source were compared with ten other infants with PKU who received their phenylalanine primarily from infant formulas. There were no significant differences between breast-fed and formula-fed infants for serum phenylalanine, serum tyrosine, length, weight, head circumference, haematocrit, haemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, percentage iron saturation, ferritin, plasma zinc and total calorie intake. Breast-fed infants did show lower mean corpuscular volume at 3 months and 6 months of age. Breast-fed infants had lower phenylalanine intake at 2, 4, 5 and 6 months of age. Breast-fed infants at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of age had lower protein intake. Breast feeding may be continued in the newly diagnosed phenylketonuric infant without any apparent adverse nutritional consequences.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1989

Ascorbate and dehydroascorbate: distribution in mononuclear cells of healthy elderly people.

Concentrations of ascorbic acid and total ascorbate (ascorbic acid + dehydroascorbic acid) were determined in mononuclear cells from eight elderly men and nine elderly women (aged greater than 65 y) on controlled intakes of vitamin C. No increase in mononuclear cell ascorbic acid concentration was observed for intakes between 30 and 280 mg/d. A significant increase in total ascorbate concentrations was observed for the same range of intakes (p less than 0.01), primarily because of an increase in dehydroascorbic acid. Women were found to have significantly higher ascorbic acid concentrations in mononuclear cells than men (p less than 0.02) for similar intakes of vitamin C. No difference was observed for total ascorbate concentrations. The ratio of dehydroascorbate to ascorbate increased with increasing intake of vitamin C for both men and women.

Aged↗