title: Novel nutritional immune formula maintains host defense mechanisms.
abstract: Military combat and training stress induce immune changes that increase the risk of infection and ultimately influence soldiers' performance and readiness. Strenuous military training/assessment provides a uniform stress and the opportunity to evaluate nutritional strategies to minimize stress-induced immune changes that predispose soldiers to infection. Immunological changes and effects of a novel nutritional immune formula (NNIF) were examined prospectively in a double-blind, controlled study of 200 soldiers attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection School. Immune function was measured by skin delayed-type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte phenotyping, mitogenic proliferative responses, and granulocyte function. Approximately 50% of soldiers completed the study (control, n = 57; NNIF, n = 50). Several stress-induced lymphocyte changes were observed (decreased mitogen-induced proliferation, T and total lymphocytes, and interferon-gamma-producing lymphocytes and increased percentage of neutrophils). NNIF modified several changes, including delayed-type hypersensitivity responses (NNIF, 78%; control, 59%; p < 0.05), increased proportions of helper T cells, activation of B cells, enhanced neutrophil phagocytosis, and attenuation of declines in certain functional subpopulations (i.e., cytotoxic/ suppressor lymphocytes). Soldiers who consumed NNIF experienced less stress-induced immune impairment, thereby lowering the risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH 43215, USA.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Rachael H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Shippee
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: DeMichele
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Winship
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montain
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Cordle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009657:North Carolina; D011446:Prospective Studies