Study note

Effects of nutritional deficiency on immune responses

THE CONTEXT

Malnutrition adversely affects immunity, with different effects on serum components, cellular responses, and antibody synthesis.

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Serum components necessary for immunity are selectively conserved until nutritional deficiency becomes marked.

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Protein calorie malnutrition suppresses both humoral and cellular immune responses; cellular responses are affected more severely.

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Deficiencies of tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine, glycine, and isoleucine decrease antibody synthesis.

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Deficiencies of vitamin A and B, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, and folic acid have also been shown to decrease antibody synthesis.

NEETx

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