Supporting initiation, development and resolution of appropriate immune responses is key to survival. Many nutrients and dietary components have been purported to have a role in supporting optimal immune function. This is vital throughout the life course, from the development and programming of the immune system in early life, to supporting immunity and reducing chronic inflammation in older people. In this special issue of Nutrients, we examine the evidence for the role of diet and dietary components in promoting protective immunity.
Subjects
immunonutrition supplementation superoxide dismutase (SOD) fermented milk selenocysteine dendritic cells lipoxygenase (LOX) chronic inflammatory conditions formulation immune system cytokines skeletal muscle zinc non-digestible carbohydrates Toll-like receptor carbohydrates fiber lymphocytes antibody infants liver macrophage inflammatory process probiotic plant older people gut barrier infection amino acids gut T helper 1 (Th1) immunity T cells bioactive peptide inhibitor of kappa kinase (IKK) inflammation adhesion molecules leukocytes human milk oligosaccharides vitamin D food structure vitamin E mitogen-activated protein Kinase (MAPK) gut microbiota weaning homeostasis intestinal immune system extra-cellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) cyclooxygenase (COX) oxidative stress life course polyphenols oligosaccharides micronutrients Th17 obesity tolerance arachidonic acid growth factors anti-inflammation age-related immunity prebiotic biomarker microbiome functional foods immunosenescence nutrition molecular mechanisms metabolism macronutrients toll-like receptor 4 sepsis nutrition guidelines microbiota immunomodulation inflammatory markers elderly Th1/Th17 response adults reactive oxygen species (ROS) anorexia nervosa macrophages autoimmune diseases fatty acids T cell Treg breast milk nitric oxide synthase (NOS) chemokines anti-tumorigenic metabolites deficiency protein hydrolysate nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-?B) cancer