Micronutrients and Ginseng for Immune Support in Older Adults

Aging is accompanied by physiological, psychological, economic, and social changes. Physiological changes in particular affect the requirements for several micronutrients, and the elderly are at high risk for micronutrient deficiencies. Inadequate intake and status of micronutrients leads to suppressed immunity, predisposing people to infections and aggravating malnutrition. This vicious circle is extremely critical for older adults who have to deal with the age-related impairment of immune function, or immunosenescence. Immunosenescence causes increased susceptibility to infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases overall, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This chapter reviews the roles of selected micronutrients and Panax ginseng in relation to immune function support, particularly in the context of aging. Based on their individual properties and synergistic mode of action, a combination of micronutrients and ginseng seems a reasonable association to improve nutritional status and hence the organism’s immune function, the cornerstone of health, in older adults.