Project ZincAge
NUTRITIONAL ZINC, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND IMMUNOSENESCENCE: BIOCHEMICAL, GENETIC AND LIFESTYLE IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTHY AGEING.
The ZINCAGE project will study biochemical, genetic and lifestyle implications for healthy ageing and in particular the nutritional impact of zinc.
Some antioxidant micronutrients in the diet, such as zinc, control the development and function of the immune cells, the activity of stress-related proteins and antioxidant enzyme and help to maintain genomic integrity and stability, thus suggesting diet-gene interactions.
During ageing, the intake of zinc decreases due to inadequate diet or/and intestinal malabsorption, thus causing frailty, general disability and increased incidence of age-related degenerative diseases (cancer, infections and atherosclerosis). No focused research has been performed thus far to clarify these relationships.
The project will examine the role of zinc on the immune system and on the health of elderly people in particular. Zinc deficiency in the elderly will be evaluated and the results will form a rationale for the promotion of healthy ageing through a zinc supplementation and for the development of new zinc-related anti-ageing strategies.
Project acronym: ZINCAGE
ZINCAGE is a specific targeted research project (STREP)funded by the European Union in the 6th Framework Program (FP6): “Food Quality and Safety“, Priority 5, Thematic Area T6: This topic involves epidemiological studies on the influence of diet and lifestyle on healthy ageing, aimed at preventing adult degenerative disease, particularly focusing on cardiovascular diseases and also addressing malnutrition of the elderly.
Contract n° Food-CT-2003-506850
FOOD-2002-T6 – Influence of nutrition and lifestyle on healthy ageing aimed at preventing adult degenerative disease The research will involve epidemiological studies on the influence of diet
and lifestyle on healthy ageing, aimed at preventing adult degenerative disease, particularly focusing on cardiovascular diseases and also addressing malnutrition of the elderly.
General Informations on Zinc for Consumers
ZINCAGE is a depeening of WP2, WP4 and WP5 of the project ImAginE and is a part of Expression of Interest (EoI) in FP6.
I.N.R.C.A. Go to I.N.R.C.A. Brochure
Contact:
Coordinator
Dr. Eugenio Mocchegiani
Immunology Center (Section: Nutrition Immunity and Aging)
INRCA, Department of Research
via Birarelli 8, 60100 Ancona
Phone: +39-071-8004216; Fax: +39-071-206791
E-mail: e.mocchegiani@inrca.it
Project Officer
Dr. Maria Spulber
European Commission – DG Research
Directorate E-Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Research
Unit E2 – Food Quality
B – 1049 Brussels – SDME 8/02
Phone: + 32 2 2987333
Fax: + 32 2 2964322
E-mail: maria.spulber@cec.eu.int