Low Caloric Intake Confers Cardiovascular Protection and Improves Functional Capacity Without Affecting Immunological
Meiry de Souza Moura-Maia1, Boris Brill2, Rosa Helena Ramos Paula-Vieira1
1Laboratory of Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology, Universidade Evangélica de Goiás (UniEvangélica), Avenida Universitária Km 3,5, Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil.
Background:
Aging is characterized by a decline in the cardiovascular hemodynamic response, which may be aggravated by undernutrition. However, no study has evaluated whether low caloric intake may affect cardiovascular hemodynamics and its possible relation with functional capacity and immune response in older adults.
Methods:
Sixty-one older adults of both genders were enrolled in this study and were classified as normocaloric (n = 18) and hypocaloric (n = 43). All volunteers were evaluated for cardiovascular hemodynamics using impedance cardiography (PhysioFlow®); functional capacity by the 1' sit-to-stand test with SpO2 monitoring; whole-blood analysis using an automated hematocytometer (Sysmex®); and levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and Klotho by ELISA.
Results:
The hypocaloric group presented impaired functional capacity, measured by a reduced number of sit-to-stand repetitions (p < 0.0251) and impaired delta of SpO2 (p < 0.0307). In contrast, the hypocaloric group presented an improved stroke volume (p < 0.0352), systemic vascular resistance (p < 0.0075), and systemic vascular resistance index (p < 0.0184). In addition, no changes were observed in the whole-blood analysis (p > 0.05) or for IL-6 (p > 0.05), TNF-alpha (p < 0.05), IL-10 (p < 0.05), and Klotho (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
A long-term hypocaloric diet in eutrophic older adults' resulted in an enhanced cardiovascular hemodynamic response but was associated with reduced functional capacity without changes in the immune response.
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