Understanding nutrition and immunity in disease management

Abstract

As we search for answers to modern medicine's most prevalent and challenging problems, the relationship between nutrition, immunity, and biological function of various natural compounds are preimminent. Nutritional research involving genomics provides rational capabilities for preventing disease. Scientific advances in genomic sequencing reveal opportunities for exploring diet-health relationships and potential for individual, genotype based dietary recommendations. Utilizing molecular and genetic technology to analyze impact of nutrition on genomics and metabolism reveals that nutrients may influence certain innate and/or acquired immune functions. By analyzing immune mechanisms including their cells and complex molecules, animal models have offered relevant insight that clarifies interrelations between immunity and nutrition. Plant products also provide numerous resources through bioengineering for designing novel pharmaceuticals. Having long been employed successfully in traditional and folk medicines, plant compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and angiogenic activity. As a result, we now have a promising arsenal for successful application of bioactive compounds.

Targeting the tumor immune microenvironment with “nutraceuticals”: From bench to clinical trials

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The environmental drivers of bacterial meningitis epidemics in the Democratic Republic of Congo, central Africa

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Nutritionally Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: An Interaction of Nutrition, Infection, and Immunity

“…There is ample evidence to show that impaired immunity is a critical adjunct factor in malnutrition-related infection. 8,9 This applies not only to young children in developing countries but to all age-groups in all subsets of population like elderly and those with eating disorders and primary debilitating diseases. 10,11 However, the chance for reversibility is a ray of hope.…”