title: Effect of vitamin A deficiency on the immune response in obesity.
abstract: Obesity has been associated with low-grade systemic inflammation and with micronutrient deficiencies. Obese individuals have been found to have lower vitamin A levels and lower vitamin A intake compared with normal-weight individuals. Vitamin A plays a major role in the immune function, including innate immunity, cell-mediated immunity and humoral antibody immunity. It has also been recognised recently that vitamin A has important regulatory functions. Vitamin A status has an important effect on the chronic inflammatory response. Vitamin A deficiency increases a T-helper type 1 (Th1) response, elevates levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increases the expression of leptin, resistin and uncoupling proteins (UCP) and promotes adipogenesis. The effect of vitamin A deficiency on obesity might be increasing the risk of fat deposition and also the risk of chronic inflammation associated with obesity. Supplementation with vitamin A in vitro and in animal models has been found to reduce concentrations of adipocytokines, such as leptin and resistin. In conclusion, vitamin A deficiency increases a Th1 response in the presence of obesity and thus, increases the inflammatory process involved in chronic inflammation and fat deposition. The metabolism of leptin and other adipocytokines may play a critical role in the effect of vitamin A deficiency in the inflammatory response observed in obesity.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av de la Ciencia S/N, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico. olga.garcia@uaq.mx
authors.forename: Olga P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000276:immunology; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014801:Vitamin A