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      Call for Papers: Preclinical Investigations of Nutrigenetic/Nutrigenomic Targets

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      Immune-Enhancing Role of Vitamin C and Zinc and Effect on Clinical Conditions

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          Abstract

          Vitamin C concentrations in the plasma and leukocytes rapidly decline during infections and stress. Supplementation of vitamin C was found to improve components of the human immune system such as antimicrobial and natural killer cell activities, lymphocyte proliferation, chemotaxis, and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Vitamin C contributes to maintaining the redox integrity of cells and thereby protects them against reactive oxygen species generated during the respiratory burst and in the inflammatory response. Likewise, zinc undernutrition or deficiency was shown to impair cellular mediators of innate immunity such as phagocytosis, natural killer cell activity, and the generation of oxidative burst. Therefore, both nutrients play important roles in immune function and the modulation of host resistance to infectious agents, reducing the risk, severity, and duration of infectious diseases. This is of special importance in populations in which insufficient intake of these nutrients is prevalent. In the developing world, this is the case in low- and middle-income countries, but also in subpopulations in industrialized countries, e.g. in the elderly. A large number of randomized controlled intervention trials with intakes of up to 1 g of vitamin C and up to 30 mg of zinc are available. These trials document that adequate intakes of vitamin C and zinc ameliorate symptoms and shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections including the common cold. Furthermore, vitamin C and zinc reduce the incidence and improve the outcome of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea infections, especially in children in developing countries.

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          Most cited references9

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          Two randomized controlled trials of zinc gluconate lozenge therapy of experimentally induced rhinovirus colds.

          The therapeutic efficacy of zinc gluconate lozenge therapy in experimentally induced rhinovirus infection was assessed in two randomized controlled trials in susceptible adult volunteers. In trial 1, lozenges containing either zinc gluconate (23 mg of elemental zinc) or placebo were given 36 h after nasal inoculation of rhinovirus type 39 and administered eight times per day for 5 days. All of the volunteers had early cold symptoms at the time that treatment was begun. In trial 2, the same lozenge regimen was used, beginning 2 h after nasal inoculation with rhinovirus type 13, and continued for 7 days. Zinc therapy did not reduce the severity or duration of cold symptoms or the frequency or duration of viral shedding in either trial. Viral titers were measured in trial 2 and were shown to be unaffected by zinc therapy. Nasal mucus weights and the numbers of paper tissues used were slightly higher in zinc recipients. A statistically significant increase in levels of zinc in serum was documented in zinc recipients after 5 days of therapy. These data suggest that zinc gluconate lozenge therapy is not therapeutically useful in the treatment of rhinovirus colds.
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            Duration of Symptoms and Plasma Cytokine Levels in Patients with the Common Cold Treated with Zinc Acetate

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              Immune function in aged women is improved by ingestion of vitamins C and E.

              We have investigated the effects of supplementation of the diet with the antioxidant vitamins C and E on several functions of the immune response of aged women. Ten healthy women and 20 women (72 +/- 6 years old) suffering two diseases often associated with age (10 with major depression disorders, MDD, and 10 with coronary heart disease, CHD) were administered 1 g of vitamin C and 200 mg of vitamin E daily for 16 weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment for measurement of several immunological functions, namely proliferative response of lymphocytes to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (20 mg/L) and phagocytic functions of polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophils, i.e., adherence to vascular endothelium, chemotaxis, phagocytosis of latex beads, and superoxide anion production. In addition, we also determined the levels of serum cortisol and lipid peroxides. Intake of vitamins resulted in a significant increase in the lymphoproliferative capacity and in the phagocytic functions of PMN neutrophils as well as in a significant decrease of serum levels of lipid peroxides and cortisol, both in the healthy aged women and in the aged women with MDD or CHD. These findings suggest an important role of antioxidant supplementation in the improvement of immune function in aged females as well as in the prevention and treatment of specific diseases associated with age that are quite prevalent in the developed countries.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                ANM
                Ann Nutr Metab
                10.1159/issn.0250-6807
                Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism
                S. Karger AG
                0250-6807
                1421-9697
                2006
                February 2006
                27 February 2006
                : 50
                : 2
                : 85-94
                Affiliations
                aBayer Consumer Care Ltd., Basel, and bReinach, Switzerland
                Article
                90495 Ann Nutr Metab 2006;50:85–94
                10.1159/000090495
                16373990
                3288cbe4-2d93-42ca-ac43-30fee6164c0a
                © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

                Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

                History
                : 28 April 2005
                : 14 September 2005
                Page count
                References: 93, Pages: 10
                Categories
                Review

                Nutrition & Dietetics,Health & Social care,Public health
                Risk of infections,Zinc,Oxidative stress,Effects on immune response,Vitamin C

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