The immune response in iron-deficient young children: effect of iron supplementation on cell-mediated immunity.
The effects of iron deficiency on immunity remain controversial. This study was designed to assess the impact of iron supplementation on the immune status, in 81 children aged 6 months-3 years, at high risk for iron deficiency, using a longitudinal double blind randomised and placebo-controlled study. Lymphocytes of iron-deficient children produced less interleukin-2 in vitro. Iron supplementation for 2 months increased mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin and serum transferrin, but had no effect on the parameters of T-cell mediated immunity. The lower interleukin-2 levels in iron-deficient suggest that cell-mediated immunity may be impaired in iron deficiency.
Thibault
H
H
Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation, CNAM, Paris, France.
Galan
P
P
Selz
F
F
Preziosi
P
P
Olivier
C
C
Badoual
J
J
Hercberg
S
S
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron