Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16-6YD, UK.
Nutrition in Medicine Research Group, Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Nutrients. 2020 Apr 23;12(4):1181. doi: 10.3390/nu12041181.
Public health practices including handwashing and vaccinations help reduce the spread and impact of infections. Nevertheless, the global burden of infection is high, and additional measures are necessary. Acute respiratory tract infections, for example, were responsible for approximately 2.38 million deaths worldwide in 2016. The role nutrition plays in supporting the immune system is well-established. A wealth of mechanistic and clinical data show that vitamins, including vitamins A, B, B, C, D, E, and folate; trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper; and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid play important and complementary roles in supporting the immune system. Inadequate intake and status of these nutrients are widespread, leading to a decrease in resistance to infections and as a consequence an increase in disease burden. Against this background the following conclusions are made: (1) supplementation with the above micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids is a safe, effective, and low-cost strategy to help support optimal immune function; (2) supplementation above the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but within recommended upper safety limits, for specific nutrients such as vitamins C and D is warranted; and (3) public health officials are encouraged to include nutritional strategies in their recommendations to improve public health.
公共卫生措施包括洗手和接种疫苗，有助于减少感染的传播和影响。然而，全球感染负担仍然很高，需要采取额外的措施。例如，急性呼吸道感染在 2016 年导致全球约 238 万人死亡。营养在支持免疫系统方面的作用已得到充分证实。大量的机制和临床数据表明，维生素（包括维生素 A、B、B、C、D、E 和叶酸）、微量元素（包括锌、铁、硒、镁和铜）以及欧米伽-3 脂肪酸二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）在支持免疫系统方面发挥着重要且互补的作用。这些营养素的摄入和状况不足在全球范围内普遍存在，导致对感染的抵抗力下降，从而导致疾病负担增加。在此背景下，得出以下结论：（1）补充上述微量营养素和欧米伽-3 脂肪酸是一种安全、有效且低成本的策略，有助于支持最佳免疫功能；（2）对于维生素 C 和 D 等特定营养素，补充推荐膳食允许量（RDA）以上但在推荐的安全上限内是合理的；（3）鼓励公共卫生官员在其建议中纳入营养策略，以改善公共卫生。
