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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342135
Title: Impact of micronutrients on the immune response of animals

Author
item Smith, Allen
item PANICKAR, KIRAN - Hill'S Pet Nutrition
item Urban, Joseph
item Dawson, Harry

Submitted to: Annual Review of Animal Biosciences
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2018
Publication Date: 2/27/2018
Citation: Smith, A.D., Panickar, K.S., Urban Jr, J.F., Dawson, H.D. 2018. Impact of micronutrients on the immune response of animals. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences. 6:227-254. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022914.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022914

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) play an important role in regulating and shaping an immune response. Deficiencies generally result in inadequate or dysregulated cellular activity and cytokine expression, thereby affecting the immune response. Decreased levels of NK, granulocyte, and phagocytic cell activity, and T- and B cell proliferation and trafficking are associated with inadequate levels of micronutrients, as well as increased susceptibility to various adverse health conditions including inflammatory disorders, infection and altered vaccine efficacy. In addition, most studies of micronutrient modulation of immune responses have been done in rodents and humans, thus limiting application to the health and well-being of livestock and companion animals. This exploratory review elucidates the role of vitamins and minerals on immune function and inflammatory responses in animals (pigs, dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, and cattle) with reference to rodents and humans.