Dietary Proteins

Despite all that has been written, little evidence supports the notion that the American diet for the elderly needs major modifications (table 3). Particularly in counseling and assessing the elderly, physicians must keep in mind that whatever technique older patients used to reach their present age is probably better than what we can recommend.

Information about effects of protein and amino acid intake on carcinogenesis comes mainly from experiments on laboratory animals. In general, tumor formation and tumor growth are retarded in animals consuming protein- or amino acid-deficient diets, but the effects have been attributed mainly to reduced caloric intake or body weight. Nonetheless, some tumors grow well in animals consuming diets that contain levels of protein that are insufficient to meet their nutritional needs.

The study of actual nutrition in old-aged subjects (60-74, 75-89 and 90 years and older) in the regions with varying levels of long-living has revealed different types of nutrition depending on the climatic and geographical zones. The character of nutrition of old-aged in varying regions permits a suggestion on the relation of long-living with low energy requirements that are formed under the influence of ecological conditions (high temperature and humidity of the air in Abkhazia) and determined genetically (Azerbaijan, Ukraine).