Nutrition for immune support and healthy function Flashcards
Treatment goals:
-Reduced uncomfortable symptomatic experience
-Reduce severity and duration of illness
-Support full recovery
-Prevent sequela
-Prevent re-occurrence following resolution
Looking at dietary sugar:
Too much sugar intake may have a deletrious effect on immune function, especially when fighting a bacterial infection
-Proinflammatory proteins (TNF-alpha, CRP, IL-6)
-Changes to the microbiome
-Simple carbohydrates can decrease the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils (function not number was altered)- Effects can last up to 5 hours
What to eat:
Look to reducing obvious refined sugars (ex: cookies, cakes, pastries, candies, sugary beverages, INSTEAD:
-Eat whole fruits or blended in smoothies for natural sweetness
-Fill up with whole fruits, vegetables, healthy protein, fibre, and complex carbs
-For a sore throat, instead of ice cream, try making a home iced made lolly made from herbal tea and lemon
Ensure enough dietary protein:
A deficiency in dietary protein/amino acids impairs immune function and increases suseptibility to infection. Amino acids are important to:
-Activate T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, NK cells & macrophages
-Lymphocyte proliferation
-Production of antibodies & cytokines
Review typical diet to see if meeting dietary goals, consider increasing dietary protein with:
-Homemade bone broth & homemade chicken noodle soup
-Congee made with bone broth, added chicken/eggs
-Rice and lentils
-Homemade Jell-O/Protein smoothie
Honey for healing:
-Natural antimicrobial properties
-decreases inflammation
-Symptomatic management by easing discomfort
-Not for infants under 1 YOA, due to risk of clostridium botulinum
-Try as: lemon & honey tea, iced lolly, lozenge
Probiotics:
Supports healthy microbiome, especially with/following antibiotic use
Safe and well-tolerated
Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SsK12) may offer specific support with strep throat infection, but more research needed
Vitamin D:
-Active form, Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
-Fat-soluble vitamin, liquid/gel cap formula taken with food/main meal
-Can dose appropriate to Vitamin D status if known
-Over 2500 IU Vitamin D3=Rx in Ontario (Over 1,000 IU in BC)
-Given clear directions with dose and duration, too much can lead to toxicity
Vitamin C:
Should be used as supplemental therapy along with antiviral regimens to relieve patients fromt eh symptoms of common cold.
-The upper tolerable intake level (UL) is 2g/d
Increased vitamin C intake does cause an increase in the urinary excretion of uric acid
A large 20 year prospective study showed a decreased risk of gout with increased vitamin C intake from both food and supplemental sources.
Most common adverse effects of high doses of oral vitamin C are gastrointestinal:
-Gastric irritation from the decreased pH of the stomach contents
-Intestinal gas, bloating, cramping, and pain cause by unabsorbed vitamin C metabolized by the colonic bacteria
-Diarrhea caused by unabsorbed vitamin C in the colon
-Dental erosion (chewable and powdered ascorbic acid only)
Zinc:
-Potential treatment for the common cold
-17 trials involving 2121 participants were included in the meta-analysis
-was found to shorten the duration of cold symptoms compared to placebo (mean difference -1.65 days)
-more effective in adults (mean difference -2.63 days) than in children (mean difference -0.26 days)
-Adverse events such as bad taste and nausea were more common in the zinc group than in the placebo group.
What would your dietary treatment recommendation look like?
Depends on individual:
-Chosen diet & preferences (ex: vegetarian/vegan)
-Allergies
-Age
-Accessibility/availability
-Past medical history and presenting illness
Heath Canada & NHPS:
-Proper manufacturing-without contamination and incorrect ingredients
-Appropriate labeling
-Supported health claims
-8 digit NPN, or DIN-HM
