Cited by 134Child Nutrition and Water AccessIron Metabolism and DisordersTrace Elements in Health

Undernutrition, the acute phase response to infection, and its effects on micronutrient status indicators

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Bresnahan, Kara A., Tanumihardjo, Sherry A.·2014·Advances in Nutrition

Abstract

Infection and undernutrition are prevalent in developing countries and demonstrate a synergistic relation. Undernutrition increases infection-related morbidity and mortality. The acute phase response (APR) is an innate, systemic inflammatory reaction to a wide array of disruptions in a host's homeostasis, including infection. Released from immune cells in response to deleterious stimuli, proinflammatory cytokines act on distant tissues to induce behavioral (e.g., anorexia, weakness, and fatigue) and systemic effects of the APR. Cytokines act to increase energy and protein requirements to manifest fever and support hepatic acute phase protein (APP) production. Blood concentrations of glucose and lipid are augmented to provide energy to immune cells in response to cytokines. Additionally, infection decreases intestinal absorption of nutrients and can cause direct loss of micronutrients. Traditional indicators of iron, zinc, and vitamin A status are altered during the APR, leading to inaccurate estimations of deficiency in populations with a high or unknown prevalence of infection. Blood concentrations of APPs can be measured in nutrition interventions to assess the time stage and severity of infection and correct for the APR; however, standardized cutoffs for nutrition applications are needed. Protein-energy malnutrition leads to increased gut permeability to pathogens, abnormal immune cell populations, and impaired APP response. Micronutrient deficiencies cause specific immune impairments that affect both innate and adaptive responses. This review describes the antagonistic interaction between the APR and nutritional status and emphasizes the need for integrated interventions to address undernutrition and to reduce disease burden in developing countries.

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  • Micronutrient deficiencies cause specific immune impairments that affect both the innate and adaptive immune systems, such as impaired phagocyte and lymphocyte activity with zinc deficiency, or compromised development of neutrophils, macrophages and NK cells with vitamin A deficiency.

    “micronutrient deficiencies cause specific immune impairments that affect both the innate and adaptive immune systems, such as impaired phagocyte and lymphocyte activity with zinc deficiency, or compromised development of neutrophils, macrophages and NK cells with vitamin A deficiency [50].”
  • Infection can cause a significant increase in the demand for micronutrients, met by endogenous or exogenous (i.e., the diet) supplies.

    “In turn, infection can cause a significant increase in the demand for micronutrients, met by endogenous or exogenous (i.e., the diet) supplies [5,50].”

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  1. Khovidhunkit W, Kim MS, Memon RA, Shigenaga JK, Moser AH, Feingold KR, Grunfeld C. Effects of infection and inflammation on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism: mechanisms and consequences to the host. J Lipid Res 2004;45:1169-96.

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Authors
Bresnahan, K. A., & Tanumihardjo, S. A.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Tanumihardjo, Sherry A.
Venue
Advances in Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-11
Volume
5
Issue
6
Pages
702-711
ISSN
  • 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
  • 2161-8313
OpenAlex
W2018648438
Cited by
132
References
176
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9
FWCI
1.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
malnutrition, acute phase response, infection, micronutrient status, inflammatory cytokines, acute phase proteins, iron status, zinc status, vitamin A status, protein-energy malnutrition, intestinal permeability, immune dysfunction, micronutrient uptake, anorexia, nutrition interventions, developing countries
MeSH terms
Acute-Phase Reaction, Developing Countries, Humans, Infections, Nutritional Requirements, Nutritional Status, Vitamin A, Vitamin A Deficiency, Zinc, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Micronutrients, Iron, Dietary, Malnutrition

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