Vitamin A is important for the maturation of various cells of the innate immune system. Vitamin A deficiency can impair protective barriers such as the skin and mucosal layers, can weaken the response to vaccination, and might predispose people to…
Vitamin C plays a critical role in immune function. Vitamin C is highly concentrated in immune cells, where it serves as a potent antioxidant. Vitamin C also boosts the immune system by promoting the proliferation of T cells and preventing…
Nutrition plays an essential role in immune function. Most people living in the United States obtain sufficient protein, carbohydrates, and fats in their diet. However, many people lack essential vitamins and minerals, which must be obtained from our diets since…
Deficiency of the trace element zinc is rare in the United States, although up to 45 percent of people 60 years and older have inadequate zinc intake. People who consume alcohol or follow a vegetarian diet might require more zinc.…
Increasing evidence suggests that the microbiota, the diverse population of bacteria harbored by the human body, plays a key role in immunity. Many studies suggest that short-chain fatty acids derived from the gut microbiota promote the expansion of T-regulatory cells,…