Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids influence the immune system of infants. 2008

Frédéric Gottrand
EA 3925, IFR 114, Faculty of Medicine and University of Lille 2, Lille, France. fgottrand@chru-lille.fr

Several events occur during the first months of life that allow the immune system to become competent and functional. The aim of this article is to review the rationale and evidence of an influence of (n-3) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) on the immune system of infants. The (n-3) LCPUFA exert their immunomodulatory activities at different levels. The (n-3) LCPUFA metabolites induce eicosanoid production, alter gene expression, and modify lipid raft composition, altering T-cell signaling; all contribute to immunological functional changes. However, the roles of these mechanisms and the types of T or other immunological cells involved remain unclear at present. Moreover, the effect of (n-3) LCPUFA on the immune system of infants may vary according to dose, time of exposure, and profile of the immune system (T-helper, Th1/Th2). Most of the interventional studies in infancy have been performed for the prevention of allergy. They all confirmed influence on T-cell function and cytokine profiles, but clinically beneficial effects are more conflicting. Supplementation of the maternal diet in pregnancy or early childhood with (n-3) LCPUFA is potentially a noninvasive intervention strategy to prevent the development of allergy, infection, and possibly other immune-mediated diseases. However, any long-term in vivo effects on (n-3) LCPUFA early in life for immunomodulatory defense in infants and later on immune status and health remain to be assessed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006969 Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity reactions which occur within minutes of exposure to challenging antigen due to the release of histamine which follows the antigen-antibody reaction and causes smooth muscle contraction and increased vascular permeability. Atopic Hypersensitivity,Hypersensitivity, Atopic,Hypersensitivity, Type I,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivity,Atopic Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivities, Atopic,Hypersensitivities, IgE-Mediated,Hypersensitivities, Immediate,Hypersensitivities, Type I,Hypersensitivity, IgE-Mediated,IgE Mediated Hypersensitivity,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivities
D007107 Immune System The body's defense mechanism against foreign organisms or substances and deviant native cells. It includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response and consists of a complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components. Immune Systems,System, Immune,Systems, Immune
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007225 Infant Food Food processed and manufactured for the nutritional health of children in their first year of life. Food, Infant,Foods, Infant,Infant Foods
D007227 Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Nutritional physiology of children from birth to 2 years of age. Infant Nutrition Physiology,Nutrition Physiology, Infant,Complementary Feeding,Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Infant Nutritional Physiology,Supplementary Feeding,Complementary Feedings,Feeding, Complementary,Feeding, Supplementary,Feedings, Complementary,Feedings, Supplementary,Nutritional Physiology, Infant,Physiology, Infant Nutrition,Physiology, Infant Nutritional,Supplementary Feedings
D008895 Milk, Human Milk that is produced by HUMAN MAMMARY GLANDS. Breast Milk,Human Milk,Milk, Breast
D003141 Communicable Diseases An illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host. Infectious Diseases,Communicable Disease,Disease, Communicable,Disease, Infectious,Diseases, Communicable,Diseases, Infectious,Infectious Disease
D004042 Dietary Fats, Unsaturated Unsaturated fats or oils used in foods or as a food. Dietary Oils,Unsaturated Dietary Fats,Dietary Fat, Unsaturated,Dietary Oil,Fat, Unsaturated Dietary,Fats, Unsaturated Dietary,Oil, Dietary,Oils, Dietary,Unsaturated Dietary Fat
D005231 Fatty Acids, Unsaturated FATTY ACIDS in which the carbon chain contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds. Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Unsaturated Fatty Acid,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,Acid, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acid, Unsaturated Fatty,Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acids, Unsaturated Fatty,Fatty Acid, Polyunsaturated,Fatty Acid, Unsaturated,Unsaturated Fatty Acids
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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