Novel nutritional immune formula maintains host defense mechanisms

Military combat and training stress induce immune changes that increase the risk of infection and ultimately influence soldiers' performance and readiness. Strenuous military training/assessment provides a uniform stress and the opportunity to evaluate nutritional strategies to minimize stress-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2005-11, Vol.170 (11), p.975-985
Main Authors: Wood, Steven M, Kennedy, Jeffrey S, Arsenault, Joanne E, Thomas, Debra L, Buck, Rachael H, Shippee, Ronald L, DeMichele, Stephen J, Winship, Timothy R, Schaller, Joseph P, Montain, Scott, Cordle, Christopher T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Armed forces
Cohort Studies
Double-Blind Method
Food, Formulated
Humans
Immune System
Infection - immunology
Infection Control - methods
Lymphocytes
Male
Military Personnel
Military training
North Carolina
Nutrition
Prospective Studies
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Summary:Military combat and training stress induce immune changes that increase the risk of infection and ultimately influence soldiers' performance and readiness. Strenuous military training/assessment provides a uniform stress and the opportunity to evaluate nutritional strategies to minimize stress-induced immune changes that predispose soldiers to infection. Immunological changes and effects of a novel nutritional immune formula (NNIF) were examined prospectively in a double-blind, controlled study of 200 soldiers attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection School. Immune function was measured by skin delayed-type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte phenotyping, mitogenic proliferative responses, and granulocyte function. Approximately 50% of soldiers completed the study (control, n = 57; NNIF, n = 50). Several stress-induced lymphocyte changes were observed (decreased mitogen-induced proliferation, T and total lymphocytes, and interferon-gamma-producing lymphocytes and increased percentage of neutrophils). NNIF modified several changes, including delayed-type hypersensitivity responses (NNIF, 78%; control, 59%; p < 0.05), increased proportions of helper T cells, activation of B cells, enhanced neutrophil phagocytosis, and attenuation of declines in certain functional subpopulations (i.e., cytotoxic/ suppressor lymphocytes). Soldiers who consumed NNIF experienced less stress-induced immune impairment, thereby lowering the risk of infection.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED.170.11.975