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Nutrition and the immune system from birth to old age
Abstract
For millennia, food has been at the center of social events, in times of joy and in times of sorrow. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with a significant impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, complement system, secretory immunoglobulin A antibody concentrations, and cytokine production. Deficiency of single nutrients also results in altered immune response: this is observed even when the deficiency state is relatively mild. Of the micronutrients, zinc, selenium, iron, copper, vitamins A, C, E and B(6), and folic acid have important influences on immune responses. Overnutrition and obesity also reduce immunity. Low-birth-weight infants have a prolonged impairment of cell-mediated immunity that can be partly restored by providing extra amounts of dietary zinc. In the elderly, impaired immunity can be enhanced by modest amounts of a combination of micronutrients. These findings have considerable practical and public health significance.
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In the citing paper
“most older people over the age of 60–65 years (although not all) experience some immune dysregulation that makes them less able to respond to immune challenges [33,34].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“There is a loss of lymphoid tissue, particularly in the thymus, with increasing age [25], and the ability to respond to pathogens, antigens and mitogens decreases [5,33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, this age group is more likely to suffer prolonged infections, severe symptoms and secondary complications [33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“The development, maintenance and optional functioning of immune cells is dependent on adequate nutrition, evident at all stages of life [4,5,33,49,69].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“However, micronutrient deficiencies are common in older people; it has been estimated that 35% of those aged 50 years or older in Europe, USA and Canada have a demonstrable deficiency of one or more micronutrients [33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“In low-birthweight infants, supplementary zinc can partly restore cell-mediated immunity [33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Multiple micronutrient supplementation in older people may also reduce antibiotic usage and lead to higher post-vaccination immune responses [33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Supplementation with modest amounts of a combination of micronutrients can have beneficial effects [33].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Impaired immunity in older people, often caused by multiple micronutrient deficiencies, is evident in the increased incidence and severity of common infections that affect the upper and lower respiratory tracts, as well as the urinary and genital tracts [33,116].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
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Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course
Maggini, S., Pierre, A., & Calder, P. C. (2018) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu10101531 · Cited by 710
“Multiple micronutrient supplementation in older people may also reduce antibiotic usage and lead to higher post-vaccination immune responses [33].”
BackgroundInfluentialImpact of micronutrient deficiencies on obesity
García, O. P., Long, K. Z., & Rosado, J. L. (2009) · Nutrition Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00228.x · Cited by 398
Changes during aging and their association with malnutrition
Amarya, S., Singh, K., & Sabharwal, M. (2015) · Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jcgg.2015.05.003 · Cited by 382
“15 Many elderly patients have an increased risk for malnutrition compared with other adult populations.”
BackgroundThe effect of iron deficiency anemia on the function of the immune system.
Ekiz, C., Agaoglu, L., Karakas, Z., Gurel, N., & Yalcin, I. (2005) · The Hematology Journal · doi:10.1038/sj.thj.6200574 · Cited by 308
Langius, J. A. E., Bakker, S., Rietveld, D. H. F., Kruizenga, H. M., Langendijk, J. A., Weijs, P. J. M., & Leemans, C. R. (2013) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1038/bjc.2013.458 · Cited by 310
“Deficiency of nutrients alters the immune response, even when the deficiency state is relatively mild (Chandra, 2002).”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Chandra, R.
- Affiliations
- Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Chandra, RK
- Venue
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Published
- 2002-07-30
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- S3
- Pages
- S73-S76
- ISSN
- 0954-3007 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5640
- OpenAlex
- W2054621363
- Cited by
- 369
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 15.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- nutrition and immunity, protein-energy malnutrition, cell-mediated immunity, micronutrient deficiency, zinc, selenium, iron, copper, vitamins, folic acid, obesity, overnutrition, low birth weight, older adults, immunosenescence, cytokine production, secretory IgA
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aging, Child, Child, Preschool, Deficiency Diseases, Humans, Immune System, Infant, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Middle Aged, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Protein-Energy Malnutrition, Vitamins, Micronutrients
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