Prospects for the development of a personalized mineral complex for the prevention and correction of regional diselementoses in the elderly people

BACKGROUND. In the modern world, life expectancy is increasing, which leads to an increase in the number of elderly people. The problems of maintaining and promoting health, a rational lifestyle, and improving the functional capabilities of the elderly and senile are relevant to society as a whole. The choice and use of longevity technologies must be personalized, taking into account the characteristics of human health, lifestyle, and take into account genetic and epigenetic factors. In the Republic of Karelia, one of the causes of serious health disorders of the population is a deficiency of trace elements. The analysis of the elemental status and the development of corrective programs are of key importance in the elderly and senile for the prevention of diseases associated with deficiency and imbalance of trace elements.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the study is to study the content of macro- and microelements in the body of residents of the older age group in various regions of the Republic of Karelia in order to further develop recommendations for correcting the deficiency.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. To assess the elemental composition of the body, the composition of trace elements in the hair was analyzed using atomic emission and mass spectrometry methods. All hair samples were collected and subjected to sample preparation according to the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the methodological recommendations of the Federal Center for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision of the Russian Federation. A specially designed questionnaire with personal data was filled out for each subject. The results were compared with the reference values of this age group in the middle zone of Russia.

RESULTS. As a result of the research, a high prevalence of diselementosis was revealed among the examined. Most of the respondents were at risk ("pre-disease"). Calcium deficiency was the most common. Such a frequency of Ca deficiency may be associated with hypo- and vitamin deficiency D, which is a consequence of the prolonged exclusion of UV rays from the skin during the shortened daylight hours ("light starvation") in the autumn-winter period in the northern territories of our region. Deficiencies of magnesium, copper, iodine, zinc, selenium, and cobalt were also found in this sample. In addition, some of the respondents noted the presence of mercury and lead in their hair. Toxic elements (mercury and lead), which normally should not be in the human body, can come from water, food or air, which may be due to a high level of industrial pollution.

CONCLUSION. A study of the elemental composition of hair in this sample of elderly people living in the Republic of Karelia has shown that the data obtained differ significantly from the reference values typical for residents of central Russia. The work highlights the importance of monitoring the micronutrient status for the health of the population of the northern territories and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to solving this problem. Based on the data obtained, a personalized mineral complex was developed for elderly and senile residents living in Karelia, which includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, cobalt, copper and iodine.