The DOI matches its Crossref record; 140 of the 140 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The impact of obesity on the immune response to infection
Open accessAbstract
There is strong evidence indicating that excess adiposity negatively impacts immune function and host defence in obese individuals. This is a review of research findings concerning the impact of obesity on the immune response to infection, including a discussion of possible mechanisms. Obesity is characterised by a state of low-grade, chronic inflammation in addition to disturbed levels of circulating nutrients and metabolic hormones. The impact of these metabolic abnormalities on obesity-related comorbidities has undergone intense scrutiny over the past decade. However, relatively little is known of how the immune system and host defence are influenced by the pro-inflammatory and excess energy milieu of the obese. Epidemiological data suggest obese human subjects are at greater risk for nosocomial infections, especially following surgery. Additionally, the significance of altered immunity in obese human subjects is emphasised by recent studies reporting obesity to be an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality following infection with the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Rodent models offer important insight into how metabolic abnormalities associated with excess body weight can impair immunity. However, more research is necessary to understand the specific aspects of immunity that are impaired and what factors are contributing to reduced immunocompetence in the obese. Additionally, special consideration of how infection in this at-risk population is managed is required, given that this population may not respond optimally to antimicrobial drugs and vaccination. Obesity impacts millions globally, and greater understanding of its associated physiological disturbances is a key public health concern.
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“A poor diet may be combined with a sedentary lifestyle, leading to obesity, suboptimal immune response, and increased risk of infection [51].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [51]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Milner, J. J., & Beck, M. A.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Beck, Melinda A.
- Venue
- Proceedings of The Nutrition Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2012-03-14
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 298-306
- ISSN
- 0029-6651 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2719
- PMC
- PMC4791086
- OpenAlex
- W1988508853
- Cited by
- 439
- References
- 139
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 3.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
- UNC Libraries
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI078090)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK056350)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- obesity, immune response to infection, host defense, low-grade inflammation, metabolic hormones, nosocomial infections, postoperative infection, 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), immunocompetence, rodent models, vaccine response, obesity-related comorbidities
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cross Infection, Humans, Immune System, Immunity, Infections, Inflammation, Influenza, Human, Obesity
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