Monitoring immune modulation by nutrition in the general population: identifying and substantiating effects on human health

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 110; no. S2; pp. S1 - S30
• Main Authors: Albers, Ruud, Bourdet-Sicard, Raphaëlle, Braun, Deborah, Calder, Philip C., Herz, Udo, Lambert, Claude, Lenoir-Wijnkoop, Irene, Méheust, Agnès, Ouwehand, Arthur, Phothirath, Phoukham, Sako, Tomoyuki, Salminen, Seppo, Siemensma, André, van Loveren, Henk, Sack, Ulrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Allergens; Allergies; Antigens; Asymptomatic; atopy patch test; basophil activation test; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; c-reactive protein; Clinical trials; coronary-heart-disease; Disease control; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food allergies; Food industry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Guidelines as Topic; Health Status; hepatitis-b vaccination; Homeostasis; Humans; hymenoptera venom allergy; Hyperactivity; Hypersensitivity - diet therapy; Hypersensitivity - immunology; Immune response; Immune system; Immune System - physiology; Immunomodulation; Infection - diet therapy; Infection - immunology; Inflammation; Inflammation - diet therapy; Inflammation - immunology; inflammatory-bowel-disease; Metabolism; Modulation; Nutrition; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) - methods; Pathogens; Physiology; Public health; randomized controlled-trial; regulatory t-cells; Research Design; respiratory symptom survey; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; United Kingdom > UK; Europe; Validation; Guidance; Biomarkers; Immune function; Criteria; Nutrition
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513001505

Optimal functioning of the immune system is crucial to human health, and nutrition is one of the major exogenous factors modulating different aspects of immune function. Currently, no single marker is available to predict the effect of a dietary intervention on different aspects of immune function. To provide further guidance on the assessment and interpretation of the modulation of immune functions due to nutrition in the general population, International Life Sciences Institute Europe commissioned a group of experts from academia, government and the food industry to prepare a guidance document. A draft of this paper was refined at a workshop involving additional experts. First, the expert group defined criteria to evaluate the usefulness of immune function markers. Over seventy-five markers were scored within the context of three distinct immune system functions: defence against pathogens; avoidance or mitigation of allergy; control of low-grade (metabolic) inflammation. The most useful markers were subsequently classified depending on whether they by themselves signify clinical relevance and/or involvement of immune function. Next, five theoretical scenarios were drafted describing potential changes in the values of markers compared with a relevant reference range. Finally, all elements were combined, providing a framework to aid the design and interpretation of studies assessing the effects of nutrition on immune function. This stepwise approach offers a clear rationale for selecting markers for future trials and provides a framework for the interpretation of outcomes. A similar stepwise approach may also be useful to rationalise the selection and interpretation of markers for other physiological processes critical to the maintenance of health and well-being.