The World Health Organization announced in 2020 that the number of people over the age of 60 had exceeded, for the first time, that of children under the age of five. Medical and healthcare development, together with improved quality of life, have meant that the world’s inhabitants, in general, are living longer. Without going any further, the latest reports predict that by 2050, more than one in five people will be over 60 years old. Faced with this scenario, the need to find effective strategies to improve the quality of life of the elderly has never been more urgent.
To address this challenge, a research team with the presence of the IISPV and the URV, in collaboration with Costa Concentrados Levantinos and the Technological Research Center of the Basque Country, is launching a project to develop a drink specifically designed to improve immunity of the elderly It is not a medicine, but a functional drink made from natural ingredients selected for their immunological properties, which will also incorporate “nutrients to strengthen the immune system” that contribute to healthy ageing.
The approach adopted by this project, called IMMUGOLD, is supported by scientific evidence on the impact of adequate nutrition on the health and resilience of the immune system as we age. This is expertise provided by the NFOC-SALUT Functional Nutrition, Oxidation and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group of the IISPV and Rovira i Virgili University, led by Rosa Solà, professor of Medicine at the same university.
Functional foods
They are those foods that, due to the ingredients they contain, can have beneficial effects on health when consumed regularly. There are many types, focused on controlling cholesterol levels, taking care of the digestive system or, in this case, improving the immune system. The development of these products requires close collaboration between researchers and food industry professionals to ensure that each food is formulated precisely and based on sound scientific evidence.
Once designed, at the beginning of 2027, the drink will undergo rigorous clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness and, if it passes, it could become a useful tool to improve public health. The IMMUGOLD project, carried out jointly by researchers from the Center for Technological Research of the Basque Country (AZTI), from the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) and professionals from Costa Concentrados Levantinos, represents a significant step in the search for science-based solutions that address healthy aging and strengthen the immune system of the elderly, reducing the incidence of infections and chronic diseases.
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