Nutrition et Immunités : Références Scientifiques Choisies
NUTRICASUS
Le Journal de la Médecine Nutritionnelle et Fonctionnelle Pratique
NUTRICASUS
Le Journal de la Médecine Nutritionnelle et Fonctionnelle Pratique
An open-label, single-center, phase IV clinical study of the effectiveness of
zinc gluconate glycine lozenges (Cold-Eeze) in reducing the duration and
symptoms of the common cold in school-aged subjects. McElroy
BH, Miller SP. Am J Ther. 2003 Sep-Oct;10(5):324-9.
Each year, more than 62 million cases of the common cold in the United States
require medical attention and more than 80% affect school-aged children. The
objective of this prospective, intent-to-treat, phase IV study was to determine
the therapeutic and prophylactic effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine
lozenges (Cold-Eeze) for the common cold. Zinc lozenges were administered
once daily during the cold season for prophylaxis. For therapeutic purposes,
lozenges were given 4 times per day. The primary objective of the study was
the treatment effect on cold duration, and the secondary objective was the effect
on the number of common colds. A putative control from our previous study
was used for comparison. A total of 178 children, ages 12 to 18 years, was
enrolled, of which 134 met criteria for efficacy analysis. The average cold
duration with therapeutic lozenge use was 6.9 +/- 3.1 days, significantly shorter
than the 9.0 +/- 3.5 days found in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean
number of colds was 1.28 +/- 1.03 with zinc lozenge prophylaxis versus 1.7 +/-
1.91 without prophylaxis (P < 0.05), a 25% reduction. With prophylaxis, 25%
of the subjects did not experience a cold and two-thirds never had a cold or only
had 1 cold. There was no antibiotic use for any cold, and there were no adverse
events reported. Results of this study are consistent with those from our
previous retrospective study showing significantly shorter cold duration and
fewer colds with the use of zinc gluconate glycine lozenges. The zinc gluconate
glycine lozenges are well tolerated and are an easy-to-administer therapy that
has the potential to substantially reduce cold-related school absences and
antibiotic use and misuse as well as to provide a cost saving.
Essential fatty acids: the effects of dietary supplementation among children
with recurrent respiratory infections. Venuta
A, Spano C, Laudizi L, Bettelli F, Beverelli A, Turchetto E. J Int
Med Res. 1996 Jul-Aug;24(4):325-30. The impact of dietary supplementation with
essential fatty acids (EFA) on recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children was
evaluated by means of a randomized cross-over double-blind study. Linoleic acid
(596 mg/day) and alpha-linolenic acid [855 mg/day] as a commercial preparation or
placebo (olive oil) were administered for two consecutive winter seasons
(November to February, T0-T120) to 20 children affected by RRI, aged between 36
and 49 months. Plasma levels of n-3 and n-6 metabolites increased after the
administration of EFA. The number of infective episodes, days' fever and days'
absence from school were reduced significantly during the observation period
(extended from T120 to T180) in children receiving EFA supplementation. Our
results suggest that n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may play a favourable
role in the defence mechanism of these subjects.
Plusieurs milliers de publications démontrent que
les défenses innées et adaptatives voient l’efficacité
et la mesure de leurs réponses optimalisées par un
bon équilibre alimentaire. L’importance du zinc et des
acides gras oméga-3 appartient désormais à la
médecine basée sur l'évidence (EBM). L'intégrité
fonctionnelle du tube digestif est également une
condition déterminante pour que notre système
immunitaire fonctionne correctement.
Nutrition and the immune system from birth to old age.
Chandra RK.
Eur J Clin Nutr 2002 Aug;56 Suppl 3:S73-6
For millennia, food has been at the center of social events, in times of joy and in
times of sorrow. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with a significant
impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, complement system,
secretory immunoglobulin A antibody concentrations, and cytokine production.
Deficiency of single nutrients also results in altered immune response: this is
observed even when the deficiency state is relatively mild. Of the micronutrients,
zinc, selenium, iron, copper, vitamins A, C, E and B(6), and folic acid have
important influences on immune responses. Overnutrition and obesity also reduce
immunity. Low-birth-weight infants have a prolonged impairment of cell-mediated
immunity that can be partly restored by providing extra amounts of dietary zinc. In
the elderly, impaired immunity can be enhanced by modest amounts of a
combination of micronutrients. These findings have considerable practical and
public health significance.
Zinc supplementation reduces the incidence of acute lower respiratory
infections in infants and preschool children: a double-blind, controlled
trial. Sazawal
S, Black RE, Jalla S, Mazumdar S, Sinha A, Bhan MK. Pediatrics. 1998
Jul;102(1 Pt 1):1-5.
BACKGROUND: Increased acute lower respiratory infection incidence,
severity, and mortality are associated with malnutrition, and reduced
immunological competence may be a mechanism for this association. Because
zinc deficiency results in impaired immunocompetence and zinc
supplementation improves immune status, we hypothesized that zinc deficiency
is associated with increased incidence and severity of acute lower respiratory
infection. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of daily supplementation with
10 mg of elemental zinc on the incidence and prevalence of acute lower
respiratory infection in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in 609
children (zinc, n = 298; control, n = 311) 6 to 35 months of age.
Supplementation and morbidity surveillance were done for 6 months.
RESULTS: After 120 days of supplementation, the percentage of children with
plasma zinc concentrations <60 microg/dL decreased from 35.6% to 11.6% in
the zinc group, whereas in the control group it increased from 36.8% to 43.6%.
Zinc-supplemented children had 0.19 acute lower respiratory infection
episodes/child/year compared with 0.35 episodes/child/year in the control
children. After correction for correlation of data using generalized estimating
equation regression methods, there was a reduction of 45% (95% confidence
interval, 10% to 67%) in the incidence of acute lower respiratory infections in
zinc-supplemented children. CONCLUSIONS: A dietary zinc supplement
resulted in a significant reduction in respiratory morbidity in preschool children.
These findings suggest that interventions to improve zinc intake will improve
the health and survival of children in developing countries.
Tight junctions, leaky intestines, and pediatric diseases.
Liu Z, Li N, Neu J.
Acta Paediatr. 2005 Apr;94(4):386-93.
BACKGROUND: Tight junctions (TJs) represent the major barrier within the
paracellular pathway between intestinal epithelial cells. Disruption of TJs leads to
intestinal hyperpermeability (the so-called "leaky gut") and is implicated in the
pathogenesis of several acute and chronic pediatric disease entities that are likely to
have their origin during infancy. AIM: This review provides an overview of
evidence for the role of TJ breakdown in diseases such as systemic inflammatory
response syndrome (SIRS), inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, allergies,
asthma, and autism. CONCLUSION: A better basic understanding of this structure
might lead to prevention or treatment of these diseases using nutritional or other
means.
Ingested probiotics reduce nasal colonization with pathogenic bacteria
(Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and beta-hemolytic
streptococci).
Gluck U, Gebbers JO.
Am J Clin Nutr 2003 Feb;77(2):517-20
BACKGROUND: As a bacterial reservoir, the nose may harbor potentially
pathogenic bacteria (PPB: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, beta-
hemolytic streptococci, and Haemophilus influenzae). In patients carrying PPB,
antiseptic regimens could be crucial for infection control after major operations on or
injuries of the head, nasal sinuses, or lungs. Such regimens may also be important
for diabetic patients and persons receiving hemodialysis, in intensive care units, or
with impaired immunity due to various other causes. OBJECTIVE: We tested a
possible effect of the ingestion of probiotics on the bacterial flora of the nose.
DESIGN: In an open, prospective trial, 209 volunteers were randomly assigned to
consume either a probiotic, fermented milk drink [65 mL with Lactobacillus GG
(ATCC 53103), Bifidobacterium sp B420, Lactobacillus acidophilus 145, and
Streptococcus thermophilus; n = 108] or standard yogurt (180 g; n = 101) daily for 3
wk. Nasal microbial flora were analyzed on days 1, 21, and 28. The microbial
examination was blinded to the source of the samples. RESULTS: We found a
significant reduction (19%; P < 0.001) in the occurrence of nasal PPB in the group
who consumed the probiotic drink but not in the group who consumed yogurt. The
effect was mainly on gram-positive bacteria, which decreased significantly (P <
0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that regular intake of probiotics can
reduce PPB in the upper respiratory tract. The results also indicate a linkage of the
lymphoid tissue between the gut and the upper respiratory tract.