What are Nutrients?

What are Nutrients?

Introduction

Food as a whole and nutrients

that compose them play an important role

in the correct development and maintenance of

immune system. In this article we will review the

nutrients that have a greater influence on the functioning and development of the immune system.

The relationship between nutrition and immunity is a

very attractive and complex course. Nutrition is

an important and determining component of

immune response.

 Epidemiological data

The existing ones relate the presence of nutritional deficits with immune imbalances and increased risk of infections. Food in general and nutrients in particular

they play an important role in development and

proper maintenance of the immune system.

In this sense it is logical to think that any

Nutritional imbalance may affect the competence of the immune system1

.

Malnutrition states are complex processes in which multiple nutrient deficiencies occur. Given the relationship between nutrition and immunity, studies of

immunocompetence provide indicators

sensitive nutritional status hints as well

that different immunological tests become tools for the diagnosis of

nutritional status and follow-up after nutritional interventions. However, there are

Other frequently used and validated tools that have nothing to do with the immune system.

An important aspect is the response of the intestinal immune system, which is activated against

infectious agents and is able to differentiate

between dangerous and harmless agents. But under pathological conditions the response of the system

intestinal immune can react against its own structures, leading to diseases

autoimmune or against external agents

safe food.

When we talk about malnutrition and immunity

we must remember Chandra's reflections

about nutrients and the immune system2

(Table I). The alteration in the immune response is

gives early on reduced intake

of micronutrients.

Malnutrition has been associated with high

risk of complications in the postoperative period,

particularly with the risk of nosocomial infection, mainly pneumonia, respiratory failure and increased days of mechanical ventilation and days of admission to the ICU3

.

Currently it is debatable whether the composition of the diet could condition the metabolic and inflammatory response of the organism,

influencing the clinical evolution of the patient.

Nourishing is just about providing calories,

proteins, lipids and other nutrients to the body to maintain proper function? From the concept of nutrient as a component

present in food, assimilated by our body and used for energy,

to repair tissues, or to regulate different

metabolic processes we have passed to the immunonutrient, which in addition to providing the above benefits, is able to influence

in the immune system2,4.

Numerous have been identified to date

components of the diet that have immunostimulatory action. The purpose of this review

is to list the most important immunonutrients, define their characteristics and assess their use

and efficacy in daily clinical practice based on

current scientific evidence.