[yeahright]

Herpes zoster risk increased with lower fruit intake

NewsRx.com

06-09-06

Herpes zoster risk is increased with lower fruit intake.

"Herpes zoster can seriously impair quality of life and may also be a marker for age-related immune decline (immunosenescence). Diets low in micronutrients may increase the risk of zoster by temporarily compromising cell-mediated immune function or by hastening immunosenescence.

"Primary objectives were to examine the association between risk of zoster and (1) dietary intake of vitamins A, B-6, C, E, folic acid, zinc, and iron, and (2) fruit and vegetable consumption," scientists writing in the International Journal of Epidemiology report.

According to S.L. Thomas and colleagues at the University of London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, "We conducted a community-based case-control study. Cases were adults with incident zoster presenting to 22 general practices in London.

"Controls were individuals with no zoster history, matched to cases by age, sex, and general practice. Diet was ascertained for 243 cases and 483 controls using an interviewer-administered food-frequency questionnaire. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios."

"There was a strong graded association between lower fruit intake and increasing zoster risk; in adjusted analysis, individuals who ate less than one piece of fruit per week had more than three times the risk of zoster compared with individuals who ate more than three portions per day.

"None of the dietary intakes of the seven micronutrients examined had a statistically significant association with zoster risk when considered singly. However, amongst individuals aged >60 years," reported investigators, "a measure of combined micronutrient intake and vegetable intake showed similar dose-related associations with zoster risk."

Thomas concluded, "A ****tail of nutrients such as those found in fruit and vegetables may act together, particularly in older individuals, to maintain immune health and prevent zoster."

Thomas and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Epidemiology (Micronutrient intake and the risk of herpes zoster: a case-control study. Int J Epidemiol, 2006;35(2):307-314).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting S.L. Thomas, University of London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Dept. Infection & Tropical Disease, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT, England.

The publisher of the International Journal of Epidemiology can be contacted at: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England.