Date Published:

Abstract:

Nutrition plays an essential role in the regulation of optimal immunological response, by providing adequate nutrients in sufficient
concentrations to immune cells. There are a large number of
micronutrients, such as minerals, and vitamins, as well as some
macronutrients such as some amino acids, cholesterol and fatty acids
demonstrated to exert a very important and specific impact on appropriate
immune activity. This review aims to summarize at some extent the large
amount of data accrued to date related to the modulation of immune
function by certain micro and macronutrients and to emphasize their
importance in maintaining human health. Thus, among many, some relevant
case in point examples are brought and discussed: (1) The role of vitamin
A/all-trans-retinoic-acids (ATRA) in acute promyelocytic leukemia, being
this vitamin utilized as a very efficient therapeutic agent via effective
modulation of the immune function (2) The involvement of vitamin C in the
fight against tumor cells via the increase of the number of active NK
cells. (3) The stimulation of apoptosis, the suppression of cancer cell
proliferation, and delayed tumor development mediated by
calcitriol/vitamin D by means of immunity regulation (4) The use of
selenium as a cofactor to reach more effective immune response to COVID
vaccination (5). The crucial role of cholesterol to regulate the immune
function, which is demonstrated to be very sensitive to the variations of
this macronutrient concentration. Other important examples are reviewed as
well.

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