High levels of vitamin E enhance several aspects of immune function. Beisel
WR et al: Single-nutrient effects on immunologic functions. JAMA
245(1):53-58, 1981.
81% of 107 patients exposed to pesticides had depressed levels of T and B
cells. Their condition improved as pesticides were cleared from their body.
Rea WJ et al: Effects of pesticides on the immune system. J Nutr Med
2:399-410, 1991.
The antioxidant substance melatonin, produced by the pineal gland the the
gut, plays an important part in immune function. If the production of
melatonin is experimentally inhibited, a state of immunosuppression is
produced, which disappears when melatonin is restored. A role for melatonin
treatment in immunodeficiency states and cancers is proposed. Cutando A et al:
Melatonin implications at the oral level. Bull Group Int Rech Sci Stomatol
Odontol 1995.
Animal and human studies suggest that vitamin B6 deficiency impairs immune
responses, including antibody production and white cell differentiation and
maturation. A B6 deficiency has been associated with reduced immunity in the
elderly, HIV+ individuals, and rheumatoid arthritis. Rall LC et al: Vitamin B6
and immune competence. Nutr Rev 51(8):217-25, 1993.
Selenium affects all components of the immune system. A deficiency of
selenium has been shown to lower resistance to microbial and viral infections,
neutrophil function, antibody production, proliferation of T and B lymphocytes
and effectiveness of T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Supplementation
with selenium has been shown to stimulate all these functions.
Kiremidjian-Schumacher L et al: Selenium and immune responses. Environ Res
42(2):277-303, 1987.
A group of elderly subjects experienced significant stimulation of several
immune system parameters after 6 months' supplementation with selenium. Peretz A
et al: Lymphocyte response is enhanced by supplementation of elderly subjects
with selenium-enriched yeast. Am J Clin Nutr 53(5):1323-8, 1991.
An increase in the T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio occurred in 14 test subjects
treated with coenzyme Q10 supplements. Folkers K et al: Coenzyme Q10 increases
T4/T8 ratios of lymphocytes in ordinary subjects and relevance to patients
having the Aids related complex. Biochem Biophys Res Commun
175(2):786-91, 1991.
Supplementation with a modest amount of micronutrients improved several
immune factors and decreased the risk of infection in a controlled trial on
elderly people. Chandra RH: Effect of vitamin and trace-element supplementation
on immune responses and infection in elderly subjects. Lancet
340:1124-1127, 1992.
Natural killer (NK) cells, which form part of the body's immune system, are
known to spontaneously destroy tumour cells, virus-infected cells, and to play a
primary role in surveillance. Volunteers were given either 0.5 g/kg body weight
of raw garlic daily, or 1800 mg kyolic garlic daily. Compared with controls, the
NK cell performance increased in both the garlic-treated groups, by 139 per cent
in the raw garlic group and by 155.5 per cent in the kyolic garlic group. Kandi
OM et al: Garlic and the immune system in humans: its effect on natural killer
cells. Fed Proc 46(3):441, 1987.
