Changes in the immune system are conditioned by nutrition

• Published in: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 57; no. S1; pp. S66 - S69
• Main Authors: Marcos, A, Nova, E, Montero, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01-09-2003
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Aging; Anorexia; Antibodies; Antibody response; Bulimia nervosa; Cell-mediated immunity; Changes; Clinical nutrition; Complement system; Cytokines; Eating disorders; Food allergies; Gastrointestinal diseases; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immune response; Immune system; Immune System - physiology; Immunology; Malnutrition; Micronutrients; Mucosa; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Obesity; Physical exercise; Physiology; Undernutrition
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5381; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601819

Undernutrition due to insufficient intake of energy and macronutrients and/or due to deficiencies in specific micronutrients impairs the immune system, suppressing immune functions that are fundamental to host protection. The most consistent abnormalities are seen in cell-mediated immunity, complement system, phagocyte function, cytokine production, mucosal secretory antibody response, and antibody affinity. There is a number of physiological situations such as ageing and performance of intense physical exercise associated with an impairment of some immune parameters' response. Nutrition can influence the extent of immune alteration in both of them. There are also numerous pathological situations in which nutrition plays a role as a primary or secondary determinant of some underlying immunological impairments. This includes obesity, eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa), food hypersensitivity and gastrointestinal disorders as some examples. The implications of nutrition on immune function in these disorders are briefly reviewed.