Nutrients in Immunity Flashcards
What are the 4 major components of the immune system?
- Skin
- Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
- White blood cells (WBCs)
- Lymphoid tissue
What is a nearly continuous barrier to invading pathogens?
Skin
What are the 2 main types of white blood cells (WBCs)?
- Phagocytes
2. T and B cells
Which type of white blood cell ingests and digests pathogens?
Phagocytes
Which type of white blood cell is a lymphocyte that recognizes specific pathogens and mounts immune responses?
T and B cells
What are the 3 lymphoid tissues in the body?
- Bone marrow
- Thymus
- Spleen
Which lymphoid tissue produces immune stem cells?
The bone marrow
Which lymphoid tissue is the location of T cell maturation?
The thymus
Which lymphoid tissue has an abundance of macrophages?
The spleen
What percentage of the immune system does the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) make up?
70%
What is an anti-bacteria agent?
Lysozyme
What does the skin secrete?
Lysozyme
Which lymphoid tissue is the site of B cell maturation?
The bone marrow
Which lymphoid tissue clears damaged RBCs?
The spleen
What are rapidly dividing cells in the body?
Immune cells
Which nutrients are needed to maintain immune cells?
Protein, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12 and iron
Which 2 vitamins work together to regulate gene expression in immune cells?
Vitamin D and vitamin A
Which vitamin promotes immune cell division?
Vitamin D
Why are antioxidants important to the health of WBCs?
They protect the oxidizing agents that kill pathogens
True vitamin A is only found in what type of food?
Animal food
What is the molecule that is found in plant foods that can be converted to vitamin A?
Carotenoids
How effective is the conversion of carotenoids?
Not effective
What are animal sources of true vitamin A?
Liver, egg yolks and full fat dairy
What are plant sources of true vitamin A?
Carrots and sweet potatoes
What percentage of carotenoids is effectively converted in true vitamin A?
10%
What does vitamin A help skin cells become?
Mature, functional cells
What does Vitamin A deficiency cause?
The breakdown of protective barriers
Why is vitamin A referred to as the “anti-infection” vitamin?
It supports the activity of T cells to fight off bacteria and it improves vaccine efficacy
What is the role of zinc in immunity?
It’s vital for WBC formation and function
What are 3 other functions of zinc in the body?
- DNA synthesis and function
- Protein metabolism, wound healing, growth
- Development of sexual organs and bones
Where was zinc deficiency first recognized?
Egypt
What type of food was being eaten that created a zinc deficiency?
Unleavened bread
What were 2 of the symptoms of zinc deficiency in children?
Delayed growth and poor sexual development
What were 5 of the symptoms of zinc deficiency in adults?
Rash, diarrhea, appetite loss, delayed wound healing, impaired immunity
What are some food sources of zinc?
Anything with animal protein in it
How many enzymes require zinc as a cofactor?
Nearly 200
What was the unleavened bread high in?
Phytic acid
What is part of the rhodopsin protein that allows vision?
Vitamin A
What did Egyptians use to treat night blindness?
Liver juice
What is dry eye also known as?
Xeropthalmia
How can xeropthalmia lead to eventual blindness?
The cells in your eye can’t produce enough mucus to clean off your eye, which causes the eye to get so scratch that people go blind
What is an example of a food that is high in zinc?
Oysters
How can a vitamin A deficiency effect vision?
It can cause night blindness
What is the leading cause of blindness?
Vitamin A deficiency
What is when the immune system becomes “trained” to identify which substances are benign and which are hazardous?
Oral tolerance
What are 4 diseases of the gut that result from poor oral tolerance?
Food allergy, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease
What are 4 whole-body diseases that can result from poor oral tolerance?
Lupus, MS, arthritis and CVD
What helps establish beneficial microbial populations?
Breastfeeding
What does formula milk lack?
Milk fiber for bacteria, immune factors and cells
Does breastfeeding or formula milk create an anti-inflammatory environment?
Breastfeeding
Does breastfeeding or formula milk contains inflammatory components?
Formula milk
Does breastfeeding or formula milk contain many different immune cells, factors and proteins to “train” infant immune system?
Breastfeeding
Does breastfeeding or formula milk contain proteins that are difficult to digest?
Formula milk
Do breastfed or formula fed infants have better health outcomes as adults?
Breastfed infants
What protects our bodies against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses?
Inflammation
What is your bodies response to an injury?
Inflammation
Which foods in the diet are the most inflammatory?
Vegetable oil, sugar, grains and processed foods
Which foods are the most anti-inflammatory?
Fish and other seafood, grass-fed meat, dairy and eggs, and fruits and veggies
