title: The effect of zinc and vitamin C supplementation on the immune status of patients with Crohn's disease.
abstract: The immune status of 29 patients with Crohn's disease given oral supplements of Vitamin C, zinc or placebo for three-week periods was studied. Collectively, the patients showed T-cell hyporesponsiveness, as assessed by phytohaemagglutinin stimulation, which was significantly improved by Vitamin C. Both monocyte function, as assessed by latex phagocytosis, and pan T-Cell number were significantly reduced and were not influenced by supplementation. Humoral immunity, assessed by pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin synthesis, was normal and remained unchanged. Vitamin C supplements improved T-cell function in Crohn's disease, whereas neither Vitamin C nor zinc had a measurable effect on humoral immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Animashaun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Heatley
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Trejdosiewicz
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Losowsky