[Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)-decreasing Effect by Administration of Zinc in the Elderly People].

In recent years, it has become clear that zinc deficiency is closely related in several skin disorders. In elderly people, chronic itch and dry skin are common. In addition, the zinc concentrations are known to decrease with age. Therefore, we examined the beneficial effects of oral zinc supplementation on dry skin and itch in elderly people. Patients 65 years of age or older who visited the Jose Clinic (Odai-town, Mie Pref.) with serum zinc concentrations below 80 µg/dL were enrolled in the study (low zinc group). The participants were administered zinc acetate hydrate for 12 weeks from the start of the study, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum moisture content measurements, blood collection, and itch evaluation were performed every 4 weeks. Patients in the control group had serum zinc concentrations of ≥80 µg/dL (the normal zinc group). Results showed that TEWL was significantly higher in the low zinc group than in the normal zinc group, indicating that skin barrier function is impaired in the low zinc group. Serum zinc concentrations increased and TEWL decreased significantly over the 12 weeks of treatment. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between serum zinc concentrations and TEWL. Our results indicate that zinc supplementation is effective to improve the skin barrier function in elderly people.

Risk factor analysis of the decrease in gait speed among Japanese older outpatients with polypharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Both polypharmacy and frailty are critical issues faced by the elderly. The decrease in gait speed is an index of frailty, and it is generally associated with falls and fractures, which are risk factors requiring the need for support or long-term patient care. In this study, we assess the risk factors responsible for the decrease in gait speed in older outpatients with polypharmacy. METHODS: Thirty-one persons (13 men, 18 women) aged 65 years or above and regularly taking 5 or more internal medications participated in this study. RESULTS: Propensity score-adjusted multivariate logistic analysis showed that only number of medications was associated with the risk of decreasing gait speed (odds ratio: 16.00, 95% confidence interval:1.72-149.00, p value = 0.0149). A negative correlation was found between the number of medications and gait speed. In addition, the gait speed of the calcium channel blocker medication group was significantly slower than that of the non-medication group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that not only the number of medications but also the prescription contents is a risk factor for decrease in gait speed and may serve as indexes to identify patients at high risk of requiring support or long-term care.