Study summary · research use only
Protein-energy malnutrition and immunological responses
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review article discusses relationships between protein-energy malnutrition and immune function. The authors summarize epidemiologic observations linking nutritional deficiency to increased morbidity and mortality from infectious disease, and describe associated changes such as atrophied lymphoid tissue (particularly the thymus), reduced delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, fewer T cells (especially T helper cells), decreased thymulin activity, impaired secretory IgA response, reduced antibody affinity, lowered complement, and phagocyte dysfunction. They note these observations were extended to individual nutrient deficiencies and have generated clinical applications. Species are not specified; it is a narrative overview.
Abstract
Historical accounts have suggested a temporal relationship between famines and epidemics. More recently, careful epidemiologic studies have shown a relationship between nutritional deficiencies and heightened risk of morbidity and mortality due to infectious disease. These observations led to studies that examined the effect of protein-energy malnutrition on immunocompetence. The lymphoid tissues, particularly the thymus, were found to be atrophied. There was a reduction in delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, fewer T cells, especially T helper cells, decreased thymulin activity, impaired secretory immunoglobulin A antibody response, decreased antibody affinity, reduced concentration and activity of complement components and phagocyte dysfunction. These observations were then applied to the study of individual nutrient deficiencies. The interactions of protein-energy malnutrition and the immune system have generated many practical and clinical applications.
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