T-lymphocyte dysfunction in the elderly associated with zinc deficiency and subnormal nucleoside phosphorylase...

The present study was conducted in an attempt to explore a possible mechanism for zinc-deficiency-induced T-lymphocyte dysfunction in the elderly. Eight elderly subjects aged 65-78 years served in this study. All subjects were anergic, zinc-deficient and had low activity of erythrocyte nucleoside phosphorylase. Baseline values for zinc status and immunological indices were established after which subject were treated with zinc acetate (60 mg elemental zinc per day given orally) for a period of 4 1/2 months. Zinc supplementation resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of zinc in plasma (P less than 0.001), erythrocytes (P less than 0.05), lymphocytes (P less than 0.001) and neutrophils (P less than 0.005). The activity of nucleoside phosphorylase in erythrocytes increased significantly (P less than 0.001) as a result of zinc treatment. This was associated with significant improvement in the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions.