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Cited by 532Nutrition and Health StudiesGut microbiota and healthNutritional Studies and Diet

Diet and Immune Function

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Childs, Caroline E., Calder, Philip C., Miles, Elizabeth A.·2019·Nutrients
DOI 10.3390/nu11081933PMC PMC6723551
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Abstract

A well-functioning immune system is critical for survival. The immune system must be constantly alert, monitoring for signs of invasion or danger. Cells of the immune system must be able to distinguish self from non-self and furthermore discriminate between non-self molecules which are harmful (e.g., those from pathogens) and innocuous non-self molecules (e.g., from food). This Special Issue of Nutrients explores the relationship between diet and nutrients and immune function. In this preface, we outline the key functions of the immune system, and how it interacts with nutrients across the life course, highlighting the work included within this Special Issue. This includes the role of macronutrients, micronutrients, and the gut microbiome in mediating immunological effects. Nutritional modulation of the immune system has applications within the clinical setting, but can also have a role in healthy populations, acting to reduce or delay the onset of immune-mediated chronic diseases. Ongoing research in this field will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the role of diet and nutrients in immune function and will facilitate the use of bespoke nutrition to improve human health.

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  • Gut bacteria help educate immune cells and promote the establishment of immune tolerance.

    “Beneficial immunological responses to innocuous items (such as food antigens) can be avoided thanks to the presence of gut bacteria, which assist educate immune cells and promote the establishment of immune tolerance.”

    From Unveiling the therapeutic symphony of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in gut-immune harmony (2024) · cites this paper as [8]

    Section 3 (Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue; page unavailable) says the gut microbiome provides signals that may interact with immune cells and that gut immune tissue must tolerate food proteins and commensal bacteria. It does not say that gut bacteria educate immune cells or cause immune tolerance to become established; the claimed causal link goes beyond the passage. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • This immune tolerance step is essential to avoid developing allergies or autoimmune illnesses.

    “To avoid developing allergies or auto-immune illnesses, this step is essential (8).”

    From Unveiling the therapeutic symphony of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in gut-immune harmony (2024) · cites this paper as [8]

    Section 1 (Overview of the Immune System; page not provided) says regulatory T cells are vital for immune tolerance to harmless antigens such as food and pollen, supporting the allergy part of the claim. The passages do not link this tolerance step to preventing autoimmune illness. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Childs, C. E., Calder, P. C., & Miles, E. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Miles, Elizabeth A.
ORCID
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2019-08-16
Volume
11
Issue
8
Pages
1933
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/nu11081933
PMC
PMC6723551
OpenAlex
W2967899444
Cited by
532
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 106 · 2021: 117 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 1
FWCI
64.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
diet, immune function, macronutrients, micronutrients, gut microbiota, life course, personalized nutrition
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Diet, Humans, Immune System, Inflammation, Lymphoid Tissue, Nutritional Status, Gastrointestinal Tract

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