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Cited by 163Immune Cell Function and InteractionAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressExercise and Physiological Responses

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 31 of the 31 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Natural killer cell activity in elderly men is enhanced by beta-carotene supplementation

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Santos, MS, Meydani, SN, Leka, L, Wu, D, Fotouhi, N, Meydani, M, Hennekens, CH, Gaziano, JM·1996·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/64.5.772
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Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cell activity has been postulated to be an immunologic link between beta-carotene and cancer prevention. In a cross-sectional, placebo-controlled, double-blind study we examined the effect of 10-12 y of beta-carotene supplementation (50 mg on alternate days) on NK cell activity in 59 (38 middle-aged men, 51-64 y; 21 elderly men, 65-86 y) Boston area participants in the Physicians' Health Study. No significant difference was seen in NK cell activity due to beta-carotene supplementation in the middle-aged group. The elderly men had significantly lower NK cell activity than the middle-aged men; however, there was no age-associated difference in NK cell activity in men supplemented with beta-carotene. beta-carotene-supplemented elderly men had significantly greater NK cell activity than elderly men receiving placebo. The reason for this is unknown; however, it was not due to an increase in the percentage of NK cells, nor to an increase in interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor expression, nor to IL-2 production. beta-carotene may be acting directly on one or more of the lytic stages of NK cell cytotoxicity, or on NK cell activity-enhancing cytokines other than IL-2, such as IL-12. Our results show that long-term beta-carotene supplementation enhances NK cell activity in elderly men, which may be beneficial for viral and tumoral surveillance.

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Crossref · 10.1093/ajcn/64.5.772

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Bender, 1987, Natural killer cells in senescence: analysis of phenotypes and function., Rev Biol Res Aging, 3, 129
  2. Meydani, 1995, Effect of β-carotene (β-C) on the immune response of elderly women., FASEB J, 9

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Metadata

Authors
Santos, M., Meydani, S., Leka, L., Wu, D., Fotouhi, N., Meydani, M., Hennekens, C., & Gaziano, J.
Affiliations
Tufts University (US)
ORCID
Wu, D
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1996-11
Volume
64
Issue
5
Pages
772-777
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/64.5.772
OpenAlex
W1867192595
Cited by
163
References
31
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
FWCI
3.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (2t32ag000209-06)
  • National Institute on Aging (T32 AG 00209)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL-34595, HL 26490, R01HL034595)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Cell Function and Interaction
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry (medical) › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
natural killer cells, beta-carotene supplementation, older men, age-related immune decline, NK cell cytotoxicity, interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-2, IL-12, cancer prevention, viral surveillance, long-term supplementation
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Double-Blind Method, Food, Fortified, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Interleukin-2, Killer Cells, Natural, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Receptors, Interleukin-2, beta Carotene

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