Bengmark Stig
Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006 Jan;9(1):2-7. doi: 10.1097/01.mco.0000171129.29278.26.
The globe is suffering a tsunami of chronic diseases, affecting especially the elderly and those with a dysfunctioning immune system. The fundamental principles of optimal health and optimal ageing are abstaining from smoking, modest alcohol consumption, regular physical exercise and a diet rich in fish and plants and low in condensed calories, sugar and dairy products.
Dietary supply and production of advanced glycation end products leads to the accumulation of these products in the tissues and is strongly associated with ageing of the vascular endothelium, nervous system, eyes and other vital organs. Telomeres, which are not involved in DNA repair, remain unrepaired and loose with time. A decline in innate and acquired immunity is seen with increasing age and maintenance of low basal immune activity (degree of inflammation) seems important for health and longevity: 'people who are predisposed to weak inflammatory activity may live longer'.
Supplementation with vitamins has little effect on ageing/prevention of chronic diseases, but antiinflammatory molecules like polyphenols are more effective, especially when combined with reduced intake of calorie-condensed foods. The effect of probiotics on ageing needs further exploration. The effects of caloric restriction, proven effective in other species to control aging and prolong lifespan, have not been fully explored in humans.
全球正遭受慢性病的海啸，尤其影响老年人和免疫系统功能失调者。最佳健康和最佳衰老的基本原则是戒烟、适度饮酒、定期体育锻炼以及饮食富含鱼类和植物且低浓缩热量、低糖和低乳制品。
晚期糖基化终产物的饮食供应和产生会导致这些产物在组织中积累，并与血管内皮、神经系统、眼睛和其他重要器官的衰老密切相关。端粒不参与DNA修复，会随着时间推移保持未修复且缩短状态。随着年龄增长，先天免疫和后天免疫会下降，维持低基础免疫活性（炎症程度）对健康和长寿似乎很重要：“倾向于弱炎症活动的人可能活得更长”。
补充维生素对衰老/预防慢性病作用不大，但多酚等抗炎分子更有效，尤其是与减少浓缩热量食物的摄入相结合时。益生菌对衰老的影响需要进一步探索。热量限制在其他物种中已被证明对控制衰老和延长寿命有效，但其在人类中的作用尚未得到充分研究。
