FIT to Grow Old - Functionality of the Immune System and Healthy Aging

Rationale: Aging is commonly associated with reduced functionality of the immune system, resulting in a higher prevalence of infectious disease, auto-immune disease, cancer, and low-er efficiency of vaccination. The reduction in immune functionality is called 'immunosenescence' and is often observed in addition to a chronic state of systemic inflammation, referred to as 'inflammaging'. It is commonly believed that strategies improving immune functionality can be applied to improve healthy aging. Nutritional strategies, in particular, receive increasing attention, as several foods and nutrients are shown to exert immunomodulatory properties. Nutritional strategies focussing on the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids have indeed shown improvements in cytokine profiles and inflammatory gene expression, but suffer from large inter-individual variation, which might be caused by differences in immune functionality. Recent studies within the field of immunometabolism have shown that immune functionality is largely dependent on intracellular metabolism, leading to the introduction of the new term ' immune cell fitness' which combines the metabolic and functional status of an immune cell. To improve the efficiency of immunomodulatory nutritional intervention strategies and work towards personalized approaches to support healthy aging, identifying individuals with reduced immune cell fitness will be crucial.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to extensively characterize immune cell fitness in the elderly population to distinguish immunologically fit elderly from the unfit. Since immune cell fitness is a new concept, we will define a good immune cell fitness state using a young adult study population. Using a follow-up visit, we will evaluate whether our measure of immune cell fitness is robust and stable over time. Furthermore, to identify potential nutritional strategies to improve immune cell fitness and work towards personalized approaches, we will study the effects of metabolites and nutrients on their ability to improve immune cell fitness in monocytes from the elderly.

Study design: The study will be a cross-sectional study in which we will compare the immune cell fitness state of elderly people using young adult people to define an 'immune fit' status. Immune cell fit-ness will be measured in monocytes, which will be obtained from blood samples. Subjects will be given a standardized meal which they consume in the evening before the study visit at latest 8.00 pm. After consumption of the meal, subjects are not allowed to eat or drink anything but water.

On the study day, before the start of blood sampling, a small blood sample via a finger prick is collected to measure CRP levels. CRP levels of ≥10.0 mg/L indicate severe infection and will consequently exclude the subject from participating on that specific day. The relevant subjects are asked to make a new appointment. If CRP levels are < 10 mg/L, blood sampling will continue.

Blood sampling and anthropometric measurements including body weight, waist and hip circumference and a DEXA scan will be performed in each subject, after which the subjects will receive breakfast. Subjects will fill in an FFQ to gain insights into regular dietary intake. In addition, subjects will fill in questionnaires on sleep quality and general health.

Elderly subjects will be contacted for a follow-up visit at least 6 months and the latest 18 months after the study visit. The study-design of the follow-up visit will be similar to the first study visit, including the standardized meal the evening before, overnight fast, blood sampling, anthropometric measurements (except for the DEXA-scan, this will only be performed as a link between immune cell fitness and fat distribution is found in the first part of the study), and questionnaires. The freshly collected blood sample will be used for our secondary aims, namely 1) to study the effects of nutrients and metabolites on immune cell fitness, and 2) to test whether our measure of immune cell fitness is robust and stable over time.

Update August 2023 Based on our preliminary results, we decided to cancel the follow-up visit.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 20 - 30y and 60 - 75y
• BMI 18.5 - 25 kg/m2 (young adults); 20 - 30 kg/m2 (elderly)
• Willing to fast overnight for 12 hours
• Willing to give a blood sample
• Having a general practitioner
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with metabolic and/or inflammatory disease (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease (with the exception of hypertension), arthritis, arthrosis, glycogen storage dis-orders and auto-immune diseases)
• Current diagnosis of cancer
• Regular use of medication that interferes with immune function (e.g. corticosteroids, cytokine blockers)
• Regular use of medication that may interfere with metabolism (e.g. metabolic inhibitors or activators)
• Use of medication that interferes with immune function and metabolism in at least one week preceding the study visit (e.g. NSAID, anti-histamines, corticosteroids)
• More than 4kg weight gain or weight loss over the last 4 months
• Vaccination within 3 months preceding the study visit (e.g. immunization against influ-enza, pneumonia, and travel-related infections)
• Donated blood within 2 months preceding the study visit
• Pregnant, lactating or wishing to become pregnant in the period between the screening and study visit (self-reported)
• Regular use of hard drugs and soft drugs (i.e. weekly use) and at least no use within 2 months preceding the study visit
• Excessive alcohol use (i.e. >14 units per week)
• Use of cigarettes and other tobacco products
• Participation in another study that involves an intervention 2 months preceding the study visit
• Members of the research team
• Working, or doing an internship or thesis at the division "Human Nutrition and Health", Wageningen University