Researchers define immune function, nutrition link
Thursday, 15 March 2012 00:00 Editor Features – Science
THE importance of nutrition and its role in immune regulation was first recognised as early as the 1800s. During recent years, advances in understanding the regulation of the immune system and the metabolism of nutrients and their influence on regulation of signal transduction and gene expression has highlighted the critical role that nutrition plays in immune function and modulation.
Nutrients and immunity
Adequate intakes of several macro- and micro-nutrients have been shown to play a role in the efficient functioning of the immune system. This has been highlighted in patients in whom inadequate intake of not only macro-nutrients, but also of vitamins and trace elements led to suppressed immunity, which predisposed them to further infections, and in addition further aggravated their undernourished state.
Certain nutrients have been shown to selectively influence the immune response by improving overall immune response and, in some cases of deficiency or oversupply, may induce dis-regulation of the host response to infection. Further evidence suggests that deficiency of particular nutrients may even influence the virulence of certain pathogens.
Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E have been shown to have beneficial effects on immunity by regulating developmental processes and certain cells of the immune system. They contribute to the regulation of the immune system by supporting physical barriers (skin/mucosa), cellular immunity and antibody production. Specifically, the vitamins A, C, E and the trace element zinc assist in enhancing the skin barrier function.
The vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid and the trace elements iron, zinc, copper and selenium work together to enhance the protective activities of the immune cells. In addition, all these micro-nutrients, with the exception of vitamin C and iron, are essential for antibody production.
Infants and immunity
Nutrition plays an integral role in the developing gut of the infant, which in turn plays a part in the development of the immune system of the infant. The gut has both nonspecific and specific lines of defences that are important in the overall immunity of an individual. Intestinal structural and functional maturation is influenced by exogenous and endogenous factors, and its timing is absolutely important in ensuring a mature gut.
The most important of these factors include the influence of dietary allergens or antigens, pathogenic micro-organisms and their by-products’ influence on the gut barrier and on overall immunity. It thus becomes integral to ensure maturity of the gut through the balance of nutrient intake and commensal gut flora, thereby ensuring the ideal development and maturity of the immune system, and subsequently ensuring overall health of the infant.
One such way in which we can ensure an ideal microflora for immune maturity is by administrating beneficial probiotic bacteria, similar to those found in breast milk. There is growing clinical evidence for the beneficial effect of probiotics in the prevention and/or treatment of necrotising enterocolitis, infectious and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, allergic diseases, and inflammatory bowel disorders.
Conclusion
The importance of nutrition in the development and maturity of the immune system has become critical. Overall, inadequate status of certain identified nutrients may lead to suppressed immunity, and subsequently the correct intake of these nutrients becomes essential in ensuring adequate immunity, especially in the development phases of the gut maturity in the first years of life.
Other factors, such as the intake of probiotics and certain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), such as Arachidonic Acid (AA) and Decosahexanoic Acid (DHA), are also showing promising strides in ensuring ideal immune function and prevention of disease.
• Culled from Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA) Newsletter March 2012
