INDIVIDUAL NUTRIENTS,

INFECTION AND IMMUNE

FUNCTION
Effect of Post-natal Protein
malnutrition and Intrauterine Growth
Retardation on Immunity and Risk of
Infection
Fatty acids, Inflammation and
Immunity
Arginine and Imun Function
Glutamine and the Immune System
Sulphur Amino Acids, Glutathione
and Immune Function
Vitamin A, Infection and Immune
Function
 Antioxidant Vitamins and Immune
Function
Zinc, Infection and Immune Function
Role of Iron in Immunity and
Infection
Selenium and the Immune System
Probiotics and Immune Function
Nutritional deficiency , changes in
immune responses occur early.
The n-3 PUFAs: most potent
immuomodulatory activities, act as
arachidonic acid antagonists. EPA and
DHA (from fish oil ) are more
biologically potent than α-linolenic
acid.
The most prominent effect
supplemental arginine is in trauma-
induced immunosuppression :
reduction in T-cell mitogenesis,
delayed-type hypersensitivity response,
macrophage and NK cell cytotoxicity
and the improvement of wound
healing
Glutamine, as a therapy for individuals
whoe immune system is compromised
by catabolic stress
The sulphur amino acids : methionine
and cysteine. End-product of this
metabolism: glutathione, taurine,
proteins.
Vit.B6 deficiency causes Thymic
atrophy and lymphocyte depletion in
lymph nodes and spleen. Vit.B6 plays
an important part in glutathione
synthesis. Def vit.B6 can be
precipitated with the anti-TB drug
(isoniazid). Restoration vit B6 intake by
supplement, restore immune function.
Taurine: end product of cysteine
metabolism
Vit.A plays an important role in
haematopoiesis, the maintanance of
mucosal surfaces, the function of T and
B lymphocytes, NK cell and
neutrophils and the generation of Ab
responses to T-cell-dependent and
independent Ag.
Vit.A reduces the severity of
infections: measles, diarrhoeal dis,
malaria.
Vit.A suppl in well-nourished
population has little value.
Antioxidant nutrients help to
maintain the integrity of immune cell,
reducing the damage of cell membrane.
Zn has a key roles relating to cell
signalling, cell activation, gene
expression, protein synthesis
Zn is crucial for the normal
development of immune cells.
Providing Zn for deficient individuals
improves immune function and host
defence.