Background: Aging is accompanied by an impaired immune system and chronic low-grade inflammation, while the supply-status of anti-inflammatory micronutrients such as long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, folate and cobalamin is often critical in older people.
Methods: The aim of this randomised, double-blinded, 12-week intervention study with 112 healthy older people (75.5 ± 3.8 years) was to investigate the effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation in physiological doses (i.e., 400 µg folic acid, 100 µg cobalamin, 50 µg cholecalciferol, 18 mg tocopherol, 100 µg selenium, 1000 mg EPA/DHA) on the INFLA score, a new marker for identifying low-grade inflammation in a holistic approach. The status of the following micronutrients, assumed to be potentially critical, was measured: Omega-3 Index (O3I) for relative EPA + DHA levels of total fatty acids in red blood cells, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH)D), red blood cell folate (RBC folate), and holotranscobalamin (holoTC).
Results: A significant increase in the nutrient biomarkers in the intervention group compared to the placebo group (all p < 0.001) was observed. The INFLA-Score slightly decreased in individuals receiving the supplement, whereas the score increased in the placebo group (differences not statistically different). A subgroup analysis revealed a significant decrease in INFLA score in supplement treated subjects ≥ 80 years, indicating a lower inflammatory state, compared to no change in the placebo group (INFLA score Δt12-t0: intervention group − 4.1 ± 4.5, placebo group 1.3 ± 3.1 with p = 0.022). Significant associations were found between age and the decrease in the INFLA score (p = 0.010) as well as between the increase in O3I and decrease in INFLA score (p = 0.037).
Conclusion: In the present cohort of healthy older people, there was a non-significant reduction in INFLA score with multi-nutrient supplementation in physiological doses. People > 80 years of age or with a low basal O3I may benefit from a multinutrient and EPA + DHA supplementation, respectively.