Vitamin A and immunity to viral, bacterial and protozoan infections.

Abstract

Studies in animal models and cell lines show that vitamin A and related retinoids play a major role in immunity, including expression of mucins and keratins, lymphopoiesis, apoptosis, cytokine expression, production of antibody, and the function of neutrophils, natural killer cells, monocytes or macrophages, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. Recent clinical trials suggest that vitamin A supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality in different infectious diseases, such as measles, diarrhoeal disease, measles-related pneumonia, human immunodeficiency virus infection and malaria. Immune responses vary considerably during different infections, and the available data suggest that the modulation of immune function by vitamin A may also vary widely, depending on the type of infection and immune responses involved.

• Authors: R D Semba
• Journal: The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (Proc Nutr Soc) Vol. 58 Issue 3 Pg. 719-27 (Aug 1999) ISSN: 0029-6651 [Print] England
• PMID: 10604208 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Vitamin A

Topics

• Bacterial Infections (immunology, prevention & control)
• Diarrhea (microbiology)
• HIV Infections (immunology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Immunity
• Malaria (immunology, prevention & control)
• Measles (immunology, prevention & control)
• Vitamin A (administration & dosage, physiology, therapeutic use)