Micronutrients and Innate Immunity

Micronutrients such as zinc, selenium, iron, copper, β-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 p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2000-09, Vol.182 (Supplement-1), p.S5-S10
Main Authors: Erickson, Kent L., Medina, Edward A., Hubbard, Neil E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cytokines
Deficiency Diseases - immunology
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Immunity
Innate immunity
Macrophages
Micronutrients
Natural killer cells
Neutrophils
Phagocytosis
Selenium
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Vitamin C
Vitamins
Workshop Overview
Zinc
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Summary:Micronutrients such as zinc, selenium, iron, copper, β-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.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/315922