title: Nutrition and the immune system: an introduction.
abstract: Nutrition is a critical determinant of immune responses and malnutrition the most common cause of immunodeficiency worldwide. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with a significant impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, complement system, secretory immunoglobulin A antibody concentrations, and cytokine production. Deficiency of single nutrients also results in altered immune responses: this is observed even when the deficiency state is relatively mild. Of the micronutrients, zinc; selenium; iron; copper; vitamins A, C, E, and B-6; and folic acid have important influences on immune responses. Overnutrition and obesity also reduce immunity. Low-birth-weight infants have a prolonged impairment of cell-mediated immunity that can be partly restored by providing extra amounts of dietary zinc. In the elderly, impaired immunity can be enhanced by modest amounts of a combination of micronutrients. These findings have considerable practical and public health significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins