Immunonutrition

Immuno-physiological role of exogenous enzymes supplementation in heat stressed growing calves

Twenty Crossbred (Baladi× Brown-Swiss) male growing-calves, 6 to 8 months old, weighing an average of 115 to 125 kg were subjected for evaluating ZADO supplementary effects on blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, thyroid activity, and growth efficiency of calves under semi-arid conditions. The experimental units were pinned equally in two groups. The control (G1) fed the basal ration, and the 2nd, treatment group (G2) fed the basal ration + a daily supplement of 10 g ZADO (exogenous enzymes) calf- 1 day- 1 in a powder form mixed well with ration. The results showed that ZADO treatment reduced (P < 0.001) each of respiration rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), urea, creatinine, and cortisol. Also, caused a marked decline in oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. However, supplemented ZADO to growing calves diets improved antioxidant status including reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, total antioxidant capacity, serum total protein, albumin, and globulin, as well as IgG and IgM besides. ZADO enhanced (P < 0.01) thyroid activity, and feed efficacy parameters. Finally, supplementing growing calves with ZADO under semi-arid circumstances alleviates the heat stress effect, and leads to an improvement in calves' growth performance.

Micronutrient status during pregnancy is associated with child immune status in rural Bangladesh

Background

Poor immune function increases children's risk of infection and mortality. Several maternal factors during pregnancy may affect infant immune function during the postnatal period.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate whether maternal micronutrients, stress, estriol, and immune status during the first or second trimester of pregnancy were associated with child immune status in the first two years after birth.

Methods

We conducted observational analyses within the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) Benefits Bangladesh randomized controlled trial. We measured biomarkers in 575 pregnant women and postnatally in their children. Maternal biomarkers measured during the first and second trimester of pregnancy included nutrition status via vitamin D (25-hydroxy-D [25(OH)D]), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and retinol-binding protein (RBP); cortisol; estriol. Immune markers were assessed in pregnant women at enrollment and their children at ages 14 and 28 mo, including C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and 13 cytokines (including IFN-γ). We generated a standardized sum score of log-transformed cytokines. We analyzed IFN-γ individually because it is a critical immunoregulatory cytokine. All outcomes were prespecified. We used generalized additive models and reported the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals at the 25th and 75th percentiles of exposure distribution.

Results

At child age 14 mo, concentrations of maternal RBP were inversely associated with the cytokine sum score in children (-0.34 adjusted difference between the 25th and 75th percentile [95% confidence interval -0.61, -0.07]), and maternal vitamin A deficiency was positively associated with the cytokine sum score in children (1.02 [0.13, 1.91]). At child age of 28 mo, maternal RBP was positively associated with IFN-γ in children (0.07 [0.01, 0.14]), whereas maternal vitamin A deficiency was negatively associated with child AGP (-0.07 [-0.13, -0.02]). Maternal iron deficiency was associated with higher AGP concentrations in children at age 14 mo (0.13 [0.04, 0.23]), and maternal sTfR concentrations were positively associated with child CRP concentrations at age 28 mo (0.18 [0, 0.36]).

Conclusion

Maternal deficiencies in vitamin A or iron during the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy may shape the trajectory of a child's immune status.

Strategies to reduce the global burden of direct maternal deaths

The leading direct causes of the estimated 196 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births globally are postpartum haemorrhage, the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, obstructed labour, unsafe abortion and obstetric sepsis. Of the Sustainable Development Goals, one (Sustainable Development Goal 3.1) specifically addresses maternal mortality; by 2030, the goal is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. Eleven other Sustainable Development Goals provide opportunities to intervene. Unapologetically, this review focusses the reader's attention on health advocacy and its central role in altering the risks that many of the world's women face from direct obstetric causes of mortality. Hard work to alter social determinants of health and health outcomes remains. That work needs to start today to improve the health and social equality of today's girls who will be the women delivering their babies in 2030.

Nutrition for Multiples

In 2012 there were 135,943 infants of multiple pregnancies born in the United States, nearly a 2-fold increase since 1980, with twins accounting for 96% of all multiple births. To date, most perinatal morbidities associated with multiple births have proven resistant to technological or pharmaceutical interventions. Maternal nutrition can have a profound effect on the course and outcome of multiple pregnancy, with the goal of achieving optimal intrauterine growth and birthweights, and minimizing prenatal and perinatal complications for the mother and her children.

Vitamin-D deficiency impairs CD4+T-cell count recovery rate in HIV-positive adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We implemented a prospective study among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adults to examine the association between vitamin-D deficiency (VDD) and insufficiency (VDI) vs sufficiency (VDS) and CD4+T-cell improvement over 18 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

METHODS

We used data from a randomized placebo-controlled micronutrient trial with 25-hydroxy vitamin-D (25(OH)D) measured at enrollment in 398 adults. CD4+T-cell count was measured repeatedly at months 0, 3, 6, 12 and 18. Linear mixed models quantified the vitamin-D-related differences in CD4+T-cell count and associated 99% confidence intervals at baseline and respective follow-up intervals.

RESULTS

At baseline 23%, 60% and 17% of participants were VDS, VDI and VDD, respectively. Absolute CD4+T- cell counts recovered during follow-up were persistently lower for baseline VDD and VDI relative to VDS participants. The greatest deficit in absolute CD4+T-cells recovered occurred in VDD vs VDS participants with estimates ranging from a minimum deficit of 26 cells/μl (99% CI: -77, 26) to a maximum deficit of 65 cells/μl (99% CI: -125, -5.5) during follow-up. This VDD-associated lower absolute CD4+T-cell gain was strongest among patients 35 years old or younger and among participants with a baseline body mass index of less than 25 kg/m(2).

CONCLUSIONS

VDD is associated with lower absolute CD4+T-cell count recovery in HIV-positive patients on HAART. Vitamin-D supplementation may improve CD4+T-cell recovery during HAART. However, future intervention studies are needed to definitively evaluate the effectiveness of this vitamin as an adjunct therapy during HAART.

Dissecting the impact of protein versus energy host nutrition on the expression of immunity to gastrointestinal parasites during lactation

Many mammals exhibit a periparturient relaxation of previously established immune responses (PPRI) to gastrointestinal nematodes culminating in increased worm burdens. It has been suggested that the extent of PPRI may have a nutritional basis as it is considerably augmented when protein supply is scarce. Subsequent studies have shown that increased dietary protein intake can ameliorate this phenomenon. However, this effect is often confounded with increased food intake and thus increased energy levels. Herein, we aimed to dissect the effects of protein and energy nutrition on the immune status and resistance to re-infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in the periparturient host. The lactating, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis re-infected rat was utilised as an established model for mammalian PPRI. Experimental animals were assigned to restricted feeding regimens designed to achieve four pre-determined levels of crude protein (CP) at one of two levels of metabolisable energy (ME) and parasitological and immunological measurements taken at either day 6 or day 9 post re-infection. We clearly show that increased supply of dietary CP, but not increased dietary ME, significantly reduced worm burdens. The increased magnitude of worm expulsion with increased dietary CP supply strongly correlated with mucosal mast cell accumulation in the small intestine. In addition, increased CP and not ME supply increased mucosal eosinophil numbers. Furthermore, increased CP led to higher levels of total IgG at high ME only and there were interactive effects of CP and ME on serum levels of IgG1 and IgG2a. Perhaps surprisingly, CP nutrition did not affect expression of either Th1 (IFN-γ) or Th2 (IL-4, IL-13) cytokines in the mesenteric lymph nodes. These data emphasise the role of immunonutrition, and particularly dietary protein, in combating infectious disease such as gastrointestinal parasitism.

Nutrition, immunology, and genetics: future perspectives

This review surveys some of the areas in which nutrients have been shown to have an impact on specific immune functions, the use of molecular and genetic tools to study molecular responses to dietary factors,and the metabolic consequences of food. It also explores the relationships between nutrient molecules, genetic polymorphisms, and the biological system as a whole, while providing a short introduction to nutrition immunology, nutrient-gene interactions and the novel technologies employed in nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics research.

An overview of interactions between micronutrients and of micronutrients with drugs, genes and immune mechanisms

The objective of the present review is to examine critically the consequences of interactions that micronutrients undergo with nutrients and non-nutrients (mainly prescribed medicines) in diets and lifestyle factors (smoking, tea and alcohol consumption). In addition, the review describes recent work on interactions between nutrients and genes, the influence of gene polymorphisms on micronutrients, the impact of immune responses on micronutrients and specific interactions of antioxidant micronutrients in disease processes to minimise potential pro-oxidant damage.

Microgravity and immune responsiveness: implications for space travel

To date, several hundred cosmonauts and astronauts have flown in space, yet knowledge about the adaptation of their immune system to space flight is rather limited. It is evident that a variety of immune parameters are changed during and after space flight, but the magnitude and pattern of these changes can differ dramatically between missions and even between crew members on the same mission. A literature search was conducted involving a total of 335 papers published between 1972 and 2002 that dealt with the key words immune response, microgravity and astronauts/cosmonauts, isolation, gravity, and human health. The data from multiple studies suggested that major discrepancies in outcome are due to methodologic differences. However, the data also suggested major factors that affect and modulate the immune response during space travel. In part at least, these discrepancies can be attributed to methodologic differences. In addition, a variety of other features, in particular the types and extent of stressors encountered during space missions, are likely to contribute to the variability of immune responses during and after space flight. That stress plays an important role in the effects of space flight on immunologic parameters is suggested by the frequent findings that stress hormones are upregulated during and after space flight. Unfortunately, however, the existing data on hormonal parameters are almost as varied as those on immunologic changes, and correlations between the two datasets have only rarely been attempted. The functional implications of space flight-induced alterations in immune response largely remain to be elucidated, but the data suggest that long-term travel will be associated with the development of immune-compromised hosts.

Total salivary IgA, serum C3c and IgA in obese school children

Studies of the immunologic function in adult obese humans and experimental models indicate that excess adiposity is associated with impairments in host defense mechanisms. The aim of this work was to analyze the secretory and humoral immune system in obese children (n = 105, 55 boys, 50 girls ), between 6 and 13 years of age. Samples of non-stimulated saliva and whole blood were collected from fasting patients. Total salivary IgA (IgAsal), serum C3 complement (C3c) and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) were determined by quantitative radial immunodifussion on agar gel layers ( Diffu-plate, Biocienti;fica SA ). Results, expressed as mg/dl, were compared to laboratory reference values from healthy children of either sex in the same range of age that belong to the same socioeconomic class (n = 60). Data (Mean +/- 1 SD) of the whole population were: IgAsal: 11.4 +/- 4.8 vs 14.8 +/- 6.9; C3c: 190.7 +/- 53.1 vs 126.3 +/- 45.5; IgA: 194.5 +/- 101.5 vs 157.2 +/- 19.9. Data distribution showed higher frecuencies near the zone of the highest reference values for serum C3c; when results of IgA and IgAsal were expressed as percentage of the mean reference value, 51% and 48.6% of the whole studied population presented data lower than 100% and 75% respectively. These results show a compromised secretory immune system without incidence of clinical symptoms and infections, whereas humoral immunity might not be profoundly affected.

Gastrointestinal nematodes, nutrition and immunity: breaking the negative spiral

Nutritionists have long understood that intestinal nematode parasites have deleterious effects on host nutritional status, but only recently has the importance of malnutrition as a predisposing factor to intestinal nematodes been recognized. Here we review experimental and field studies on the effects of protein, energy, zinc, vitamin A, and iron deficiencies on gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes of humans, livestock, and laboratory rodents, and draw certain conclusions about the state of our current understanding. In general, malnutrition promotes the establishment, survival, and fecundity of these parasites, but the magnitude of the effect depends on factors such as host species, parasite species, particular infection protocol used, magnitude of the infection, severity of the nutritional deficiency, and presence of single or multiple infections and single or multiple nutritional deficiencies. We highlight the Th2 arm of the immune system as a component of primary importance in the association between malnutrition and GI nematode infections. We summarize what is known about underlying mechanisms that may account for the observed patterns. Finally, we suggest future research directions.

Obesity and immune function relationships

The immunological processes involved in the collaborative defence of organisms are affected by nutritional status. Thus, a positive chronic imbalance between energy intake and expenditure leads to situations of obesity, which may influence unspecific and specific immune responses mediated by humoral and cell mediated mechanisms. Furthermore, several lines of evidence have supported a link between adipose tissue and immunocompetent cells. This interaction is illustrated in obesity, where excess adiposity and impaired immune function have been described in both humans and genetically obese rodents. However, limited and often controversial information exist comparing immunity in obese and non-obese subjects as well as about the cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated. In general terms, clinical and epidemiological data support the evidence that the incidence and severity of specific types of infectious illnesses are higher in obese persons as compared to lean individuals together with the occurrence of poor antibody responses to antigens in overweight subjects. Leptin might play a key role in linking nutritional status with T-cell function. The complexities and heterogeneity of the host defences concerning the immune response in different nutritional circumstances affecting the energy balance require an integral study of the immunocompetent cells, their subsets and products as well as specific and unspecific inducer/regulator systems. In this context, more research is needed to clarify the clinical implications of the alterations induced by obesity on the immune function.

Micronutrients and innate immunity

Micronutrients such as zinc, selenium, iron, copper, beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, and folic acid can influence several components of innate immunity. Select micronutrients play an important role in alteration of oxidant-mediated tissue injury, and phagocytic cells produce reactive oxidants as part of the defense against infectious agents. Thus, adequate micronutrients are required to prevent damage of cells participating in innate immunity. Deficiencies in zinc and vitamins A and D may reduce natural killer cell function, whereas supplemental zinc or vitamin C may enhance their activity. The specific effects of micronutrients on neutrophil functions are not clear. Select micronutrients may play a role in innate immunity associated with some disease processes. Future studies should focus on issues such as age-related micronutrient status and innate immunity, alterations of micronutrients in disease states and their effect on innate immunity, and the mechanisms by which micronutrients alter innate immunity.