Supporting the immune system through nutrition

Nutrition is a key factor contributing to immune fitness

Early life presents a unique window of opportunity to influence the development of the immune system, including training it to elicit the appropriate immune response to external stimuli. Nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors that can positively influence gut microbiota composition and therefore the development of a healthy immune system, which in turn improves immune fitness and optimises future health.¹Lozupone CA, et al. Nature. Published on 2012; 489(7415): 220-30.

It leads to immediate benefits in terms of supporting the healthy growth and development of an individual but also over the long term by preventing and managing disease. In fact, studies show that for instance allergies may be prevented by making the right nutritional choices during the first 1000 days of life.

Human milk is the best source of nutrition for infants during the first six months of life, containing all the nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development.²WHO, Global strategy on infant and young child feeding. Published on 2003 Human milk contains numerous factors (e.g. immune cells, maternal antibodies, prebiotics, nucleotides) that work synergistically to optimise the immune system and protect the infant from infections and contribute to the prevention of allergic diseases.³Duijts L, et al. Pediatrics. Published on 2010;126:e18-25 ,⁴Ip S. et al. Evidence Report/Technology Assessesment.  Published on 2007;153:1-186. ,⁵Ip S, et al. Breastfeeding Medicine. Published on 2009;4(Suppl 1):S17-S30 ,⁶Quigley, et al. Pediatrics. Published on 2007 119: e837-42 ,⁷Chantry CJ, et al. Pediatrics. Published on 2006;117:425-32 ,⁸Nishimura T, et al. Pediatr Int . Published on 2009;51:812-16 ,⁹Greer FR, et al. Pediatrics. Published on 2008;121:183-91 These factors also help reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases in later life such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and type-II diabetes¹⁰American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP). Pediatrics. Published on 2012;129:e827-841  For mothers who are unable to breastfeed, infant formula is a reliable alternative.

Nutritional support for the immune system in later life & during disease

Nutrition also has a therapeutic potential to manage challenges to the immune system and ameliorate certain conditions such as chronic inflammation. The potential to modulate the immune system through specific nutritional interventions is called immunonutrition, which refers to the use of an altered supply of nutrients to modify inflammatory or immune responses.

At Danone Research & Innovation, we study the effect of nutrition on immune health for people with altered nutritional needs and/or age-related changes. Specifically for disorders in the area of Tube Nutrition, Oncology, Frailty and/or Dysphagia.

Pre-, pro-, syn- & postbiotics can have a positive impact on the gut microbiota and immune system

Increasing evidence suggests that nutritional ingredients such as specific pre-, pro-, syn- and postbiotics can positively influence the immune system directly¹¹Lehmann S, et al. PloS one. Published on 2015;10(7);pe0132304  and indirectly via modulation of the gut microbiota,¹²Lehmann S, et al. PloS one. Published on 2015;10(7);pe0132304 ,¹³Druart C, et al. Adv Nutr. Published on 2014;5(5):624S-33S ,¹⁴Wopereis H, et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. Published on 2014;25(5): 428-38 ,¹⁵Rachid R and Chatila TA, Curr Opin Pediatr. Published on 2016;28(6):748-53. ,¹⁶Muir AB, et al. Allergy. Published on 2016;71(9):1256-63 creating the optimal conditions for the immune system to function.¹⁷B Shouten, et al. J. Nutr. Published on 2009;139:1398–403 ,¹⁸Van der Aa, et al. Clin Exp Allergy. Published on 2010;40:795-804. ,¹⁹Chua, et al. WAC, Poster 08102015. Published on 2015 ,²⁰Van der Aa, et al. Allergy. Published on 2011;66:170-17

Prebiotics already have been shown in multiple clinical studies to have a positive impact on the gut microbiota composition²¹Wopereis H, et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. Published on 2014;25(5): 428-38 ,²²Rigo J, et al. Ciencia pediátrika. Published on 2001;21(10):390-96. ,²³Moro G, et al. J Pediatr Gastro Nutr. Published on 2002;34(3):291-95. ,²⁴Schmelzle H, et al. Published on 2003;36(3): 343-51 ,²⁵Rinne MM, et al. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. Published on 2005;43(1): 59-65 ,²⁶Haarman M and Knol J, Appl Environ Microbiol. Published on 2005;71(5):2318-24 ,²⁷Wopereis H SK, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Published on 2017 and the immune system.²⁸Moro G, et al. Arch Dis Child. Published on 2006;91: 814-19 ,²⁹Arslanoglu S, et al. J Nutr. Published on 2008;138(6):1091-95 ,³⁰Scholtens PA, et al. J Nutr. Published on 2008;138(6): 1141-47 ,³¹Bruzzese E, et al. Dig Liv Dis. Published on 2006;38:S283-87  As an example, in high-risk infants, a six-month intervention with partial hydrolysed protein (pHP) and prebiotics reduced levels  of the immune marker Cow’s Milk-specific IgG1.³²Boyle R, et al. Allergy. Published on 2016;71: 701-10   Additionally, our MF6 multi-fibre blend with prebiotics has shown to have a positive influence on both gut and immune health. The MF6 blend contains 2 prebiotics FOS and inulin both known to positively stimulate the immune system directly and indirectly via modulation of the gut microbiota. Studies with the MF6 blend showed that MF6 can improve gut equilibrium by having a bifidogenic effect, increasing SCFA production, reducing feacal pH and decreases diarrhoea in patients receiving tube nutrition with the MF6 blend.

Synbiotics, a combination of pre- and probiotics, also have been shown in multiple clinical studies to have a positive impact on the gut microbiota composition and the immune system.³³Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, et al. J Nutr Sci. Published on 2016;5(e42): 1-13 ,³⁴Chatchatee P, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Published on 2014;58(4):428-37 As an example, in infants born by C-section a 12-week intervention with specific synbiotics (prebiotics + Bifidobacterium breve M-16V) was able to restore the delayed bifidobacteria colonisation³⁵Chua MC MC, et al. Nutr. Published on 2017;65(1):102–106.

Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced by food-grade micro-organisms during a fermentation process. There is increasing interest in postbiotics because of their wide-ranging potential benefits for human health. It is anticipated that the effects of postbiotics can be both local as well as systemic, affecting different organs and systems. For example, different postbiotic compounds have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties³⁶Aguilar-Toalá JE, et al. T. 2018;75:105-114. doi:10.1016/j.tifs. Published on 2018.03.009