Dietary Components and Immune
Function

The Strategic Plan of the United States’ National Institute of Health stresses the
pursuit of mechanistic studies as an overarching priority. Among the basic mechanisms
identified as needing exploration are immune-focused studies. Many dietary components are believed to exert their activities by modulating immune function. These are
highly sought by patients in the absence of an effective standard pharmaceutical therapy.
Numerous botanical extracts as well as high dose vitamin supplements are used by the
public with the expectation that they will boost and/or modulate immune responses.
As the number of seniors grows interest in their loss of immune defenses (immunosenescence) increases and is linked to longevity or lack thereof. The desire to maintain
wellness by preventing and treating infectious diseases are among the key reasons for
responses. Normal functioning of the immune system is critical to health. One new
tumor cell appears about every day and is eliminated by the immune system. Aging,
stress, diseases like AIDS, autoimmune reactions, chemical treatments to suppress
immune responses in arthritis, and transplants can facilitate the survival of a cancer,
leading to clinical disease. Can dietary modulation thereafter help treat cancer? Putative
immune-modulating agents and practices are also being used with the belief that they
will maintain wellness by reversing the immune decline-associated aging and the immunosuppression associated with cancer, its treatment, and with HIV/AIDS. Thus, an
increased focus on understanding the efficacy of botanicals and other dietary supplements on immune function is warranted.