The following story graphically explains the importance your immune system plays in whether or not you stay healthy. A gentleman gets on a flight from the Orient to Seattle, Washington with active tuberculosis (TB). Of the 200 passengers exposed on that flight, 40 subsequently test positive for TB. What made the difference in those that were able to ward off the bacterial infection?- they had strong, vigilant immune systems.
With the discovery of antibiotic resistant bacteria it is clear that we must strengthen our immune system so that it may defend us. This important internal army is able to destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer cells effectively when it is working efficiently. Unfortunately, due to poor nutrition, stress and environmental toxins, our immune system is failing. To ensure a healthy immune system, improve your nutrition, take immune-enhancing nutrients including plant sterols and sterolins, reduce your stress, and be emotionally satisfied.
Until recently our immune system was not well understood. Since the introduction of HIV, immunology has advanced dramatically. We now realize how intricately all the body systems are connected. Even our nervous system is hardwired into our immune system, making us aware of the importance of our thoughts and feelings. Loneliness is now recognized as the number one predictor of disease due to its immune suppressing action. Laughter and feelings of satisfaction increase and enhance the actions of our immune cells, making our internal army more effective.
Our gut is also surrounded by powerful immune factors that ward off invaders such as fungi, bacteria and parasites that enter the body via our food. The increased incidence of parasite infections may be due to poor immune function.
Our skin is the largest immune organ, protecting us when it is intact, and excreting immune agents that fight bacteria when it is wounded. All of the entrances to the body - eyes, nose, mouth, vagina and anus-contain potent immune factors in their secretions to protect us.
Immune cells are highly reactive metabolically, and they have a high turnover. Pro-inflammatory cytokines will produce free radicals to kill foreign cells in what is called an oxidative burst of activity (Goldsby et al. 2000). While free radicals kill foreign cells, they can also be deadly to our own cells. Free radicals have been linked to immune system damage that accompanies normal aging. A strong immune system is critical to the prevention of infection by viruses, fungi, and bacteria. It is thought that cancer cells form regularly and that a vigilant immune response is therefore required to kill or deactivate these deformed cells before they become malignant tumors.
The incidence of cancer and new infectious diseases increases every year in the United States. In addition, many dangerous bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics that once kept them in check. These virulent, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are increasingly becoming a threat to our well being. There is strong scientific evidence showing that antioxidants and other natural therapies can play an important role in maintaining and enhancing immune function.
The concept that appropriate nutrients can enhance the human immune response is known as nutritional immunology. The foundation of this field of study was laid in the early 1800s when physicians discovered that severe malnutrition led to thymic atrophy. For most of that century, the evidence of a relationship between malnutrition and the immune system was based on anatomical findings. With the discovery of vitamins, it became evident that essential nutrients played a critical role in maintaining immune function (Beisel 1996).
Studies published in the 1980s and 1990s clearly show specific immune-enhancing effects of the proper use of nutritional supplements, proteins, hormones, and certain drugs. Micronutrients are now known to play a key role in many of the metabolic processes that promote survival from critical illnesses (Chandra 1983; Chandra et al. 1986). The paragraphs that follow discuss the correct balance of nutrients, nutrient supplements, proteins, and hormones and examine their role in enhancing the human immune system.
Vitamins are essential for oxidative phosphorylation (the energy generating pathway of the cell) and protection against oxidants. They also act as co-factors in many most enzymatic reactions and as signal mechanisms to other cells. Researchers use levels of immune cells, presence of antibody, and response to stimulation by antigens as measures of immune activity in vitro and in vivo, e.g., levels of IgA, IgE, B cells, T-cells, T4/T8 ratios, and response to phytohemagglutinin to name a few (Chandra et al. 1994).
Over the last 30 years, a large amount of literature supports repeatedly the connection between vitamin and mineral balance and immunity, resistance to infection, and allergy (High 1999). The most consistent nutrients linked to immune dysfunction have been low levels of vitamins A, C, E, and B6, copper, iron, and zinc (Johnson et al. 1992; Grimble 1997; Shankar et al. 1998; Ravaglia et al. 2000). Interestingly, many of these nutrients are linked to deficiency in the North American population. Kenneth H. Brown, a University of California at Davis nutrition professor, recently estimated that as much as one-half of the world population is at risk of zinc deficiency and 40% of children in low-income countries have stunted growth related to zinc deficiency. Infants, young children, and pregnant or nursing women are especially at high risk for zinc deficiency because they have increased needs for this essential nutrient. Chandra et al. (1983) has repeatedly demonstrated that groups such as atopic, formula-fed children, low-birth-weight infants, obese adolescents, malnourished hospitalized patients, and the elderly all have not only increased immune dysfunction, but also increased risk for infection and allergic disorders such as eczema. Many of these studies have actually shown improvement of immune function when supplemented with appropriate nutrients and foods (Chandra 1999). Although actual protein malnutrition is rare in North America, we experience more undernutrition and overconsumption-that is, we eat too much poor-quality food-namely, fat, sugar, and processed foodstuffs.
Another area where immunity suffers in western civilization is at the gut lining the walls of the fortress. About 60% of the immune system cells are collected around the small intestine in areas known as Peyer's patches or the GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue). Any thinning of the gut lining, such as in lactose intolerance, food allergy, gluten sensitivity, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, antibiotic-induced colitis, yeast overgrowth, etc., will render the gut "leaky." This leakiness allows incompletely digested food proteins, which are immune stimulating, to enter the blood stream. The walls of the fort have been invaded and the immune cells respond by mounting an inflammatory response. If the problem is not dealt with at the source (i.e., the thin gut wall and its causes), then the immune response becomes chronic. This chronic activation and negative cycle leads to further damage. Keeping our gut healthy through a high-residue, nutrient-dense diet can help to protect against this misfortune.
From the above, it can be seen that a strong immune system is dependant on a good foundation of nutrition. There is no single nutrient that, by itself, will enhance immunity (Lesourd 1997; Scrimshaw et al. 1997). In fact, too much of one nutrient can do the opposite of what one might want and decrease immunity (Delafuente 1991). Thus, the descriptions that follow, where individual nutrients are identified as being important, should be taken in the context of "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link."
During the 1920s and 1930s, vitamin A became known as the anti-infective vitamin, and the first attempts were made to use vitamin A therapeutically during the course of infectious illnesses. Abraham E. Axelrod and his students initiated the first systematic studies of immuno-nutritional interrelationships in laboratory animals in 1947. Human studies soon followed, and by the late 1970s, the field of nutritional immunology was well established. Newer research into vitamin A shows its importance to overall good health and its protective effects against tumor growth. Specifically vitamin A is a cell-signaling vitamin and supports immunity by helping to maintain the integrity of the body's mucosal surfaces (Villamor et al. 2000). Human sources are from liver. The carotenes from plant foods are converted to vitamin A as needed by the body. Large doses of vitamin A can be toxic, and pregnant women should never take vitamin A above the RDA because it is cancer causing to the fetus. More than 25,000 IU per day should be monitored by serum levels. Side effects include headache, dry scaly skin, and mental changes.
Beta-carotene has been shown to have a powerful effect in boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity in elderly men. In a controlled, double-blind study, the effects of 10 to 12 years of beta-carotene supplementation on NK cell activity were evaluated. While no significant difference was seen in NK cell activity in the middle-aged groups, elderly men supplemented with beta-carotene had significantly greater NK cell activity than the corresponding control group (of elderly men) who were receiving placebo (Santos et al. 1996).
Results show that long-term beta-carotene supplementation may be beneficial for immune viral and tumoral surveillance. A French study using mice concluded that, although beta-carotene supplementation resulted in a non-significant increase in NK cells in the spleen, their killing capacity was significantly enhanced after beta-carotene supplementation. The treatment had no adverse effects (Carlos et al. 1997). It is safer to take large doses of beta-carotene than Vitamin A, although a yellowing of the skin that is harmless will occur at higher levels. Because we do not know which carotenes of the many varieties are needed, a supplement of mixed carotenes is advised-or better still, eat red-, orange-, and yellow-colored vegetables, which contain high levels of all the carotenes.
The best-publicized study of the use of vitamin E to boost immune function appeared in 1997 (Meydani et al. 1997). The double-blind, placebo-controlled study looked at healthy humans at least 65 years of age. Supplementation with vitamin E for 4 months improved certain clinically relevant indices of cell-mediated immunity. These results clearly show that a level of vitamin greater than that currently recommended by the FDA enhances certain clinically relevant in vivo indices of T-cell-mediated immune function in healthy elderly persons.
Oral alpha-tocopherol supplementation at the rate of 100 mg/day significantly increased natural killer (NK) cell activity in a 16-month-old Japanese boy with Shwachman syndrome (a syndrome associated with severe vitamin E deficiency). The study showed that severe vitamin E deficiency causes impaired NK cell activity, but that the condition is reversible with alpha-tocopherol supplementation (Adachi et al. 1997).
Vitamin E's antioxidant activity is also crucial to cardiovascular health. Large amounts of vitamin E have been shown to lower cholesterol levels and protect arteries from free-radical damage (Pryor 2000). The natural platelet adhesion-inhibitory properties of vitamin E make it a potential anti-thrombotic agent as well. Again, an excess of vitamin E can be immunosuppressive indicating the need for balance and moderation in taking supplements.
High levels of vitamin C can protect levels of vitamin E in tissue and may contribute to the immune-enhancement of vitamin E (Niki 1987; Chan 1993; Stahl et al. 1997). Being an anti-oxidant, adequate vitamin C is an essential ingredient for "mopping up" the free radicals left behind after the immune system produces its oxidative burst killing activity. A steady supply of vitamin C is vital to good health. Because the human body can neither manufacture nor store vitamin C, our requirements must be met from dietary sources such as citrus fruit, vegetables, and supplements. Vitamin C's antioxidant protection is especially important to healthy lungs. Numerous studies have shown that vitamin C protects the airways against inhaled (environmental) and internal oxidants. Individuals with asthma, allergies, and sensitive respiratory systems will receive significant protection from adequate doses of vitamin C.
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, often called "the spark of life", plays an essential role in
producing energy in the cells. A powerful antioxidant with antiviral, antibacterial and anti-tumor
properties, it is most noted for its heart-protective effects. And now researchers are realizing it
is a potent immune nutrient as well. CoQ10 is currently being
studied for its effectiveness in reducing the rate of degenerative illnesses such as ALS,
Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Promising research has also shown that CoQ10, in doses
over 300 mg, inhibits the growth of breast tumors.
Our stores of CoQ10 become depleted as we
age. At the age of 50 we produce half the amount of CoQ10 that we did when we were 20. Although
CoQ10 is available from foods such as peanuts, organ meats and fatty fish, it is difficult to obtain
enough of it from diet alone. You would have to eat pounds of those foods every day. However,
supplementation is easy enough with convenient capsules. For health maintenance the recommended
daily dose of coenzyme Q10 is 30 mg per day. In the treatment of cancer, dosages of 350 mg per day
have been used to shrink tumors.
The principal role of alpha lipoic acid (ALA, also known as lipoic acid, or thioctic acid) is to convert glucose into energy. More potent than vitamins C and E, it is able to recycle these vitamins in the body as well. ALA is soluble in both water and fat, making it able to protect against damage from toxins both inside and outside our cells. The German government has approved alpha lipoic acid for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. In one study, the regeneration of nerve tissue was observed. It also inhibits the ability of viruses to replicate.
Did you know?
Diabetics and pre-diabetics take note: alpha lipoic acid in a dose of 600 mg per day can lower glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity and improve the body's ability to burn glucose.
We are born with immune cells that quickly destroy offending agents. These include macrophages and natural killer cells (NK cells). Macrophages are like "pac-man" cells, devouring foreign or abnormal looking cells, bacteria, fungi etc. NK cells go after cancer cells and virus-infected cells. Sugar consumption seriously hampers these two immune cells. One teaspoon can inhibit NK cells and macrophages for up to six hours.
We must provide our immune system with the fuel to fight its never-ending battle. Seven to 10 half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables per day are required to ensure optimal levels of vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients. Eliminating the bad fats in margarine, supermarket oils, shortenings and lard will also enhance immunity. Organic foods should be chosen whenever possible to limit your consumption of pesticides and fungicides, which are known to inhibit immune function.
T-cells are the generals in our immune arsenal. They include helper T-cells, cytotoxic T-cells and suppressor T-cells. Helper T-cells excrete proteins or cytokines that regulate immune function. There are two types of helper T-cells: Th-1 and Th-2. When these two cells and their cytokines are in balance, we are healthy. When we are sick with cancer, colds and flus, or infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, herpes, HIV, and TB, our Th-1 cells are suppressed and not releasing the "good guy" immune factors. When we have allergies, autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus), and inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, we know that our Th-2 cells are overactive and secreting too many inflammatory immune factors. Immunologists have been searching for a prescription drug that balances both sides of helper T-cell function. Researchers evaluating plant nutrients have found that plant fats, namely sterols and sterolins, optimize immunity by balancing T-helper cells.
Plant sterols and sterolins perform the balancing act very effectively. Professor Patrick Bouic has shown in his research that plant sterols and sterolins are effective at enhancing an underactive immune system and/or decreasing an overactive one. This happens without the side effects associated with pharmaceutical substances such as interferon, prednisone or methotrexate. Sterols and sterolins have been evaluated in a 25,000-person safety study and found to have no side effects, no drug interactions, and no toxicity. It is safe for children and pregnant or nursing mothers. Only those who have had an organ transplant can't take plant sterols because it may stimulate rejection. Diabetics should be under a doctor's care as their insulin requirement often decreases. Sterols and sterolins also increase the number and action of NK cells (our cancer fighters) and increase DHEA levels naturally. They also reduce the stress hormone cortisol, the proinflammatory immune factor Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a). IL-6 and TNF-a are increased in autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, over exercising, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Reducing these inflammatory agents is the key to halting pain and other symptoms. This is exactly what sterols and sterolins do.
Vitamin C, E, A and B complex, reduced L-glutathione, selenium, zinc, magnesium, coenzyme Q10 and DHEA have immune enhancing actions. Zinc is known to increase the size of your thymus gland, the powerhouse of your immune system, and improve T-cell function. Both coenzyme Q10 and selenium have been proven to protect us against cancer. Reduced L-glutathione is the most potent detoxifier, rapidly eliminating environmental pollutants from the body. Magnesium deficiencies are common due to the consumption of caffeinated drinks, which cause magnesium to be excreted. Vitamin B6 is required for maintaining hormone levels and a healthy immune and nervous system. It should be taken along with a B complex to ensure the full complement of B vitamins is present. Vitamins C, E and A are important antioxidants that protect us from infections and neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. All the nutrients mentioned above can be purchased in a formula called Multi-mune. DHEA is "the mother hormone" in charge of regulating all the hormones, and is known as the anti-aging hormone. As we age our DHEA levels decline and many degenerative diseases are associated with low DHEA levels. Plant sterols and sterolins are precursors to DHEA. This means that the body will take the plant fats and make DHEA from them. It is always better if we can rely on our body to make what we require, and this is true with DHEA.
Poor nutrition coupled with too much stress is a recipe for illness. When we are under stress our body sends out the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone then causes the proinflammatory immune factor IL-6 to be excreted. IL-6, as mentioned above, exacerbates autoimmune disorders and other inflammatory conditions. The HIV virus uses IL-6 to replicate itself. This powerful inflammatory immune factor also pulls calcium from the bones into the blood, causing osteoporosis. Sterols and sterolins effectively reduce cortisol and subsequently IL-6, alleviating symptoms associated with these diseases. Knowing this cortisol/IL-6 connection, stress reduction is of paramount importance to the health of our immune system.
Eliminate the stressors that you have control over and learn how to better handle those that you don't. Women are especially prone to stress-related conditions. With families, jobs, housekeeping and a never-ending list of daily tasks, they are damaging their immune systems without even realizing it. Women are also very shallow breathers which results in poor oxygenation of the blood, increased stress levels and decreased immunity. Take several deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth many times per day to help relieve stress and tension.
We can improve our immune function rapidly by adopting good nutrition, stress reduction, plant nutrients, and vitamins and minerals, and by eliminating many of the toxins we are exposed to daily. Relying on our immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses, Candida albicans and parasites is just what Mother Nature ordered.
 |
Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe is a health journalist who has been researching and writing on the subject of nutritional medicine for seventeen years. Lorna worked under the direction of Abram Hoffer, MD, Ph.D. at the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation for over five years. She was editor-in-chief of Healthy Living Guide magazine and Alive magazine, and senior editor of the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, a book that won the Benjamin Franklin Award. For more information visit her site: www.healthyimmunity.com |
Reprinted with permission.
Sterols and sterolins are plant fats. They are found in all plants, especially fruits, vegetables and nuts. Although similar in structure to cholesterol, they play an entirely different role, promoting healthy immune function and lowering high cholesterol. Not all fats are bad fats! Sterols and sterolins can make a significant contribution to your daily health and wellbeing.
All fruits, vegetables and nuts contain sterols and sterolins, but the key is how much you absorb:
 | modern diets don't include enough raw fruits and vegetables |
| food processing and certain cooking methods destroy sterols and sterolins |
| sterols and sterolins are bound to the fibres in plants, making them hard to digest. Only 5% of what we eat gets absorbed |
| poor digestion, especially in the elderly, further hinders absorption |
Supplementing our diets with sterols and sterolins ensures that our immune system is operating at peak levels.
Plant sterols and sterolins became available in Canada in 1998 and in the US the following year. Following are answers to some of the questions frequently asked about Moducare, the world's first sterol and sterolin supplement.
What are sterols and sterolins?
Sterols are plant fats found in all plant-based foods. A sterolin is a glucoside, a molecular structure joined to the sterol. Sterols and sterolins are found together in nature. Sterolins are easily destroyed, and without them, the sterols do not have the same immune-enhancing benefits. Moducare uses a proprietary process to preserve the ideal combination of sterols and sterolins.
Is there any research behind this product?
Research on sterols and sterolins has been underway since the 1920s. Professor Bouic has been researching the exact combination of sterols and sterolins found in Moducare for over a decade. There has been extensive testing and clinical trials, including placebo-controlled, double-blind studies. The work of Professor Bouic and others has been published in prestigious, peer-reviewed international medical journals.
Is Moducare safe? Are there side effects?
Yes it is safe. A long-term safety study involving 25,000 humans showed no side effects. In addition, standard toxicity studies, pre-clinical testing and clinical observations confirm Moducare's safety.
Any contraindications or drug interactions?
There are no known drug interactions and the only contraindication is that anyone with an organ (or other foreign tissue) transplant should not take Moducare, since an optimally functioning immune system could reject the transplant.
An allergic reaction is extremely unlikely, as Moducare contains no artificial colouring, preservatives, sweeteners or salicylates. It also contains no sugar, soy, acacia, barley, wheat, corn, millet, dairy, lactose, yeast, gluten or other common allergens.
Are sterols the same as steroids?
No. The words sound similar but that is all. Moducare contains only sterols and sterolins, no steroids. Moducare has none of the negative effects or health risks associated with steroids.
Will these plant fats make me gain weight?
No. Plant fats, unlike animal fats, are not associated with weight gain.
Is this an immune "booster" like echinacea?
The key difference between echinacea and Moducare is that echinacea only stimulates the immune system, while Moducare balances it. Echinacea is not recommended for prolonged use, or for people with autoimmune conditions. Moducare allows the immune system to regulate itself: "upregulating" or boosting an underactive response and "downregulating" an overactive one. Moducare is completely safe for long term use and for those with autoimmune conditions.
How should I take Moducare?
Adults: 3 capsules daily, usually one in the morning, one midday, and one in the evening, taken on an empty stomach for maximum absorption. Children: 1 capsule per day for children under 5; 2 per day for children between 5 and 12; and children over 12 can take the adult dose. When first starting to supplement with Moducare, it is often a good idea to double the daily requirement for the first week or so. This allows the body to build up its reserves as quickly as possible.
Note:
Taking 3 capsules at once is not as effective as spacing them out over the day, as 3 are more than the body can absorb at one time. Instead the body will excrete the excess, then run out before the next day, creating an erratic supply - first too much and then not enough.
Do I have to take it on an empty stomach?
Moducare should be taken 1 hour before or 2-3 hours after a meal for maximum absorption. However it can be taken with certain foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. The important thing is not to take it with cholesterol (animal fat), including all meat, dairy, eggs, seafood, etc. Cholesterol has a very similar molecular structure and the two compounds "compete" for absorption. You can also take Moducare with beverages, as long as they contain no cholesterol.
Can I take too much?
No. It is impossible to overdose on Moducare. The body has a limited capacity to absorb these plant fats, and any excess is excreted harmlessly in the stools.
v Healthy Immune System Is Defense Against IllnessOne way to help keep the body's defenses in their best condition is to maintain a healthy immune system, said Dr. Sharon Robinson, Texas Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist. "A weakened immune system can more easily succumb to the consequences of infection," she said. Robinson, along with Britta Thompson, Extension food and nutrition associate, offer the following suggestions to help combat illness of any description: ®
Eat healthy. Vitamins, minerals and protein are required by the immune system in its fight
against bacteria and viruses. Follow the Food Guide Pyramid for the best and most nutritious way
to get vitamins and minerals in the daily diet. Individuals who may not be able to consume the
optimum diet may need a vitamin/mineral supplement. ® Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Most experts recommend drinking eight glasses of fluids each day. Skin that is dry and cracked, or a mouth or eyes that are dry are more susceptible to infection. ® Wash hands. After being in public, using the bathroom and/or cooking or eating, clean hands are a must. Hand-washing helps prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses among groups of people in close contact, such as families or co-workers. ® Exercise each day. Daily physical activity helps keep the blood circulating the most efficiently, which brings nutrients to all cells of the body. ® Get plenty of good, restful sleep. The hours of sleep are when the body repairs and restores itself. A healthy immune system requires an adequate amount of sleep. "Continue any treatment or medication that your doctor has prescribed," Robinson said. "The human body is marvelous; all of its parts and systems are related. Stay healthy by taking care of all of them." |
For more information visit the Web site:
http://fcs.tamu.edu/food_and_nutrition.htm
Source:
Agricultural Communications
Texas A&M University
2112 TAMUS
College Station, TX 77843-2112
(979)845-2895 (979)845-2414
newsteam@tamu.edu
What is immune restoration?
Immune restoration refers to repairing the damage done to the immune system by HIV. In a healthy immune system, there is a full range of T-cells (CD4+ cells) that can fight different diseases. As HIV disease progresses, the number of T-cells drops. The first T-cells that HIV attacks are the ones that specifically fight HIV. Some types of T-cells can disappear, leaving gaps in the immune defenses. Immune restoration looks for ways to fill these gaps.
A healthy immune system can fight off opportunistic infections (OIs). Because these infections develop when T-cell levels are low, many researchers think that we can use T-cell counts as a measure of immune function. They believe that increases in T-cell counts are a sign of immune restoration. There is disagreement on this point (see "Are New T-Cells As Good As Old?" below.)
How can the immune system be restored?
We can preserve the immune system's ability to fight HIV if we start antiviral medications immediately after infection with HIV. Unfortunately, very few cases of HIV are identified that early. As HIV infection continues, it can damage the immune system. Scientists are exploring several ways to repair this damage.
Improving the function of the thymus: The thymus, a small organ located at the base of the throat, takes white blood cells that come from the bone marrow and turns them into T-cells. It works the hardest when you're just 6 months old, and then starts to shrink. Scientists used to think that the thymus stopped working by the age of 20, but newer research shows that it keeps producing new T-cells much longer, maybe until age 50. Strong antiviral medications can allow the thymus to replace lost types of T-cells.
When scientists thought that the thymus stopped working at a young age, they looked into the possibility of transplanting a young thymus into someone with HIV, or even transplanting an animal's thymus. They also tried to stimulate the thymus using thymic hormones. These methods might still be important for older people with HIV.
Restoring the number of immune cells: As HIV disease progresses, the numbers of both CD4+ (T4) and CD8+ (T8) cells drop. Some researchers are trying to prevent these decreases, or to increase the numbers of cells.
One approach, cell expansion, takes an individual's cells, multiplies them outside the body, and then infuses them back into the body. A second, cell transfer, involves giving a patient immune cells from the patient's twin, HIV-negative relative, or from a different species that is HIV-immune.
A third method uses cytokines. These are chemical messengers that support the immune response. The most work has been done on interleukin-2 (IL-2), which can lead to large increases in CD4+ cells.
Another approach is gene therapy. This involves changing the bone marrow cells that will travel to the thymus and become T-cells. Gene therapy tries to make the bone marrow cells immune to HIV infection.
Letting the immune system repair itself: CD4+ counts have increased for many people who have taken combination antiviral therapy. Some scientists believe that the immune system might be able to heal and repair itself if it's not fighting off large numbers of HIV viruses. This approach seems more likely now that we know that the thymus keeps working until a person is almost 50 years old.
Most people take medication to prevent opportunistic infections when their T-cell counts go below 200. Several studies have shown that if these people take antiviral medications and their T-cell counts climb back over 200, it is safe in most cases to stop taking medications to prevent these infections. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you stop taking any medication.
Stimulating HIV-specific immune response: Researchers are using a special preparation of modified, killed HIV virus (Remune®) to stimulate the body's response to HIV. Remune is essentially the same as a vaccine, but it is given to people who are already HIV-infected. An initial study of Remune® added to antiviral therapy showed that it decreased viral load, increased CD4+ cell counts, and increased immune system response to HIV.
Are new T-cells as good as old?
Most approaches to immune restoration are based on increasing the numbers of CD4+ cells. This is based on the assumption that when T-cells increase, the immune system is stronger.
When people with HIV start taking antiviral medications, their T-cell counts usually go up. At first, the new T-cells are probably copies of existing types of T-cells. If some "types" of T-cells were lost, they won't come back right away. This could leave some gaps in the body's immune defenses.
However, if HIV stays under control for a few years, the thymus might make new T-cells that could fill in these gaps and restore the immune system. Some of these T-cells will specifically fight HIV, and can help control HIV infection.
Source: New Mexico AIDS InfoNet
www.aidsinfonet.org
What causes one person to catch a cold or flu and another to avoid it? Why do serious outbreaks of infectious disease leave some individuals untouched? Why are some people incapacitated by allergies? Why does one person with HIV never contract full blown AIDS while another succumbs and dies?
The answers lie within the most powerful curing machine hard-wired into our body- the immune system.
The body's ability to protect itself from the onslaught of offending viruses, bacteria, fungi and cancer can be enhanced or weakened by a number of factors. We have each experienced the cold that sets in after an extraordinarily stressful event: too many days of celebration and/or unrelenting stress. More serious events such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or the loss of a job can weaken our immune system and make us susceptible to heart attack, a debilitating autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, or even cancer. Years of poor diet, inadequate nutrients, continual stress, negative emotions, lack of exercise and environmental poisons all contribute to the inability of our immune system to properly defend us. Fortunately, the body is wonderfully regenerative and our internal army of immune cells can be enhanced in a matter of weeks simply by improving our nutrition, reducing stress, adding immune-specific nutrients, exercising and seeking emotional well-being.
Our immune army is a highly specialized front-line defense that identifies, remembers, attacks
and destroys disease-causing invaders and abnormal or infected cells. When this internal army is
functioning optimally, few viruses, cancer cells, bacteria, fungi or parasites are allowed to set up
house and wreak havoc. The immune system is so determined to annihilate invaders that it can
sometimes go awry and begin to damage the body itself, as happens in autoimmune diseases like lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Our immune system is made up of an arsenal of
different cells, each with a specific duty. Natural killer (NK) cells are often the first cells a
virus or bacteria encounters and if the NK cells are effective, these invaders will never be able to
infect healthy cells. NK cells are also our cancer-fighting cells. Macrophages are like "pac-man"
cells, digesting and destroying offending agents. T-cells are the generals of our immune army: they
include helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells. Cytotoxic T-cells fight viruses and bacteria that
manage to get past the NK cells and are now inside cells. Helper T-cells are especially important
because they control the secretion of important immune factors, called cytokines, that modulate or
balance the immune system and keep it functioning at peak performance. There are two types of helper
T-cells: T-helper-1 and T-helper-2. When these two types of helper T-cells are in balance, we are
healthy. When we are sick with cancer or infectious diseases (such as herpes, hepatitis C, colds and
flu, pneumonia and HIV) our T-helper-1 cells are suppressed and unable to release enough of the
"good guy" immune factors. When we have allergies, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, or
autoimmune diseases like type-1 diabetes, Crohn's disease or Celiac disease, our T-helper-2 cells
are overactive and secreting too many of the inflammatory immune factors. The key to maintaining
health is to keep these two types of helper T-cells in balance. The five steps to optimizing immune
function focus on enhancing T-helper-1 cells and controlling T-helper-2 cells.
Sugar
is one food that should come with a warning label stronger than that found on a cigarette package.
Sugar inactivates our NK cells. As little as one teaspoon of sugar shuts off NK cell activity for up
to sixhours, leaving us vulnerable to the invasion and growth of cancer and infectious diseases.
While sugar is toxic to the immune system, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds optimize immunity, and
should make up the bulk of our diet. Organic foods should be chosen over pesticide-laden foods,
fresh wild fish and lean, free-range chicken and turkey over red meat, and purified water over tap
water.
Vitamin A, C, E and B-complex, reduced L-glutathione, selenium, zinc, magnesium,
coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid and sterols and sterolins all have important immune enhancing properties.
Vitamin A
is clearly an immune vitamin. If you are deficient in this vitamin you will be prone to infections,
especially colds and flu. Wounds and stomach ulcers will not heal quickly. Vitamin A helps mucous
membranes maintain their structure and keep invaders out, which is especially important for immune
cells. It also helps with cell division and enhances T-cell counts. Vitamin A has also been shown to
combat hair loss in those undergoing chemotherapy. A dosage of 5,000 IU should be taken daily.
Vitamin C
increases levels of the antibody Immunoglobin A, which plays an integral role in stopping invaders
from entering our digestive tract. Vitamin C also has antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer
properties. Supplement with at least 1,000 mg per day for optimal immune health.
Vitamin E, along with vitamin C and selenium, increases our resistance to infection and protects us against the damaging effects of stress. It also enhances our T-cell function and the release of the good guy immune factors, Interleukin-2 and Gamma interferon. Vitamin E has been found to improve B-cell activity and antibody production. 400 IU per day will provide immune protection.
Vitamin B6 with a B complex is essential for maintaining optimal hormone levels and a healthy immune and nervous system. B6 is required for good thymus gland and T-cell activity and it enhances NK cell function. Without vitamin B6 the immune system is like an army without weapons, waiting for attackers to descend. B6 should always be taken with a complex of B vitamins. Look for a supplement containing 25-50 mg of each B vitamin.
Magnesium is required for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body and that alone makes it important to the immune system. Magnesium keeps pro-inflammatory immune factors in check, effectively reducing pain and swelling for those with fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis. A minimum of 100 mg per day is needed.
Zinc truly is the most important immune mineral. Zinc increases the size of the thymus gland, the conductor of the immune orchestra. Without a healthy thymus the immune system is powerless. Zinc has been studied for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. 15 mg per day is recommended. Zinc is one of those nutrients where more is not better. Too much zinc can cause immune suppression, so don't take more than 60 mg per day.
Selenium deficiency may be one of the causes of cancer. It was found that women who live in areas where the soil selenium levels were poor had higher rates of cancer per capita. In Africa the worst rates of HIV are in areas where soil selenium levels are very low. Selenium is needed to fight off bacteria and viruses, and to ensure our T-cells and NK cells work hard. 100 mcg per day is essential for cancer prevention.
Coenzyme Q10 has been found to halt tumors, and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. By the time we are 50 our coenzyme Q10 levels are half what they were in our twenties. 30 mg per day is a maintenance dose, but over 320 mg has been used to treat breast cancer with excellent tumor-inhibiting action.
Reduced L-glutathione is my favorite nutrient. No other antioxidant is as important to overall health as glutathione. It is the regenerator of immune cells and the most valuable detoxifying agent. Low levels are associated with viral infections and early death. Optimum levels control insulin, halt inflammatory processes, detoxify alcohol, eliminate carcinogens, and keep cholesterol from oxidizing. 50 mg per day is a protective dose.
Lipoic acid, another potent antioxidant, is a more effective detoxifier than vitamin C and vitamin E. It is well researched for the treatment of diabetes as it improves insulin sensitivity and controls diabetic neuropathies. Studies have shown that lipoic acid is an important vitamin-like nutrient that inhibits the ability of HIV to replicate.
Sterols and sterolins have been researched extensively worldwide for their anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Professor Patrick Bouic, head of immunology at the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, has found that sterols and sterolins balance the action of the T-helper-1 and T-helper-2 cells. Within 4-6 weeks immune function is normalized and the symptoms of disease begin to disappear. Allergic reactions cease, autoimmune disease goes into remission, cancerous tumors shrink and general well-being is observed. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown that sterols and sterolins control the negative immune factors Interleukin-6 and Tumor necrosis factor, both of which are implicated in autoimmune disease, increase the good guy immune factors Gamma interferon and Interleukin-2, and increase the levels of the hormone DHEA. The body will also make DHEA from plant sterols and sterolins, ensuring we always have adequate DHEA levels. Prof. Bouic has performed human trials using sterols and sterolins on the following diseases: HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, HPV-induced cervical cancer, tuberculosis, stress-induced immune suppression, enlarged prostate, and rhinitis, with excellent results.
Poor nutrition combined with excess stress causes most disease. When we are exposed to stress, be it emotional, physical, environmental or nutritional, our body sends out the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone then causes two things to happen: our DHEA levels drop and our Interleukin-6 levels rise. DHEA is the most important immune hormone. It is also called the anti-aging hormone. DHEA is negatively affected by cortisol. Interleukin-6 (Il-6) is an inflammatory immune factor that causes inflammation, pain and swelling, and it is known to exacerbate autoimmune and fibromyalgia symptoms. HIV and the herpes virus use Il-6 to replicate themselves. Il-6 also draws calcium from the bone into the blood, causing osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
All body systems are intricately connected to the immune system. Research performed at the University of Rochester, New York, has shown that our nervous system is in direct communication with our immune system, and therefore thoughts and emotions affect our immunity. Happiness and feelings of self-worth are paramount to good immune health. Prayer, a positive attitude and spiritual well-being have been proven to enhance T-cell activity, making our internal army more effective.
Low to moderate exercise is beneficial to health and enhances immunity. Walking is the most effective immune-maximizing activity, providing movement for the body while clearing the mind. Boost the intensity and duration of an exercise routine however, and too much of a good thing can be bad. The moral is "all things in moderation". If you are exercising more than four times a week you may be suppressing your immune system. Exercise moderately three times a week for no longer than one hour and ensure you add the nutritional supplements recommended above to protect your immune system. Walk, walk, walk! The body has remarkable regenerative abilities. We only have to give it the tools it needs to repair itself. Stress reduction, good nutrition and regular exercise will help your immune system do its job of fighting off bacteria, viruses, parasites and more.
Source:
1999-2000 Healthy Immunity
www.HealthyImmunity.com
Reprinted with permission.
by Rhody Lake, alive #194, Dec 1998
The beginning of the healing process is cleansing the body of toxins. Then you must provide the nutrients to restore the immune system to optimum function. Professor Patrick JD Bouic says it is really very simple.
Dr. Bouic is head of the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Stellenbosch Medical Faculty in South Africa. After 12 years of clinical studies and empirical observations, he says he's convinced. Plant-derived medicines and foods are the keys to both the prevention and cure of disease.
He's not talking about the antioxidant value of plant biology. His research has been in the area of sterols and sterolins, the plant fats that act as immune modulators. They support the immune function of the body to prevent degeneration and effectively resist invasion by disease-causing bacteria.
"Unfortunately our modern processing and cooking methods destroy these essential plant fats," he says. "It's time we look at the way we eat and what we eat. We must get back to good, whole food and balanced meals. Malnourishment leads to immune suppression. The body must have a chance to heal. Sterols and sterolins provide the balance to an organism that is unbalanced as a result of stress: physical, mental and nutritional."
Nutritionists recommend eating from 75 per cent to 90 per cent of food uncooked. All vegetables contain from five to 40 milligrams of plant sterols. This concentration can easily increase when they are dried, since vegetables contain about 80 per cent water.
These important plant fats occur in all plant life, some more than others. Kelp and other seaweeds are rich in sterols and sterolins, which is one of the reasons why people in Asian countries get less degenerative disease than those in North America. The healing power of raw foods is the result of the presence of intact sterols and sterolins along with essential enzymes, vitamins and minerals.
Fruit
contains from two to 30 milligrams and all seeds are rich in plant sterols when they mature,
including nuts, cereals, beans and seed-derived spices. Slicing, grating, macerating and juicing
fresh plant material does not affect the sterols, but the refining process does. The ancient message
that traditional whole food is your best medicine does not change!
Wheat, for instance, contains about 4,200 milligrams of plant sterols per 100 grams, while wheat flour contains only about 52 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams! The removed bran contains about 4,500 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams and the unrefined oil about 2,600 milligrams per 100 grams. Crude plant oils are a relatively rich source of phytosterols and their glucosides, but most of these are removed during refining. While soy beans contain about 160 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams, the crude oil contains more-as much as 350 milli-grams. This is reduced to 220 milligrams when the oil is refined and is further reduced during hydrogenation. This applies to all plant oils.
In order to consume 100 milligrams of plant sterols, however, one would have to eat 500 to 700 grams of fresh vegetables and fruit or about 200 grams of flour products (without additives). This amount has to be doubled for a normal dietary supply. When processed food is eaten or when one is under stress, the deficiency is more acute. Slimming diets, ill health and old age also seriously reduce the intake of sterols and sterolins.
We've paid a high price for our processed and refined foods: several generations of disease are making every generation a little more vulnerable than the last. AIDS, atherosclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Reynaud's disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, scleroderma and psoriasis are all diseases of a deficient immune system where the body can no longer defend itself. Allergies and asthma are in that category also. And a new and more virulent strain of tuberculosis is creating concern in the medical community, the result of a crumbling immune defense. Dr Bouic says research into new drugs will not fix the underlying cause.
The cure for autoimmune disease is not in the chemical kingdom. And it's not in the animal kingdom. The answer to the ills of mankind is in the kingdom of plant medicine, which is what herbalists and naturopathic practitioners have said for centuries. South African studies into the healing power of plants began with a brew made from plants used to treat a man dying of advanced prostate cancer. His recovery began a week after he was fed it. He died 10 years later from an unrelated illness. Other anecdotal stories of recovery from arthritis, tuberculosis, HIV and lupus began a series of clinical trials at the University of Stellenbosch. The data has now satisfied peer reviews and is published in international scientific journals.
Dr Bouic's own studies began with clinical trials of 50 tuberculosis patients. The 25 who received the sterol and sterolin supplementation had a dynamic boost to their immune systems and were able to gain weight. The others did not.
Bouic says the technology to encapsulate these plant sterols and sterolins is unique and highly complex, but precise.
He explains that it's important to realize that vitamins, minerals and plant fats are all present naturally in whole food. Modern food processing, however, has destroyed our staple fruits and vegetables to the point where most people are malnourished and stressed. Cells cannot respirate, healthy cells do not replicate and the entire organism is on a slide towards decay and death. Our bodies need the correct food in optimum amounts to function normally and to raise another generation of healthy people.
Plant sterols are not vitamins. They have no antioxidant properties, so taking them does not preclude a regular vitamin and mineral regimen. But vitamin supplements are not effective unless they are assimilated. The immune system needs to receive the boost of natural plant sterols. Cholesterol is a well-known and much discussed sterol, but with a major difference. Animals produce only cholesterol while plants have the ability to produce both a small amount of cholesterol (the good variety) as well as the phytosterols that are essential nutrients for healthy cells. Both humans and animals must derive these compounds from their diets.
The entry of the industrial age was the beginning of the refining and denaturing of nutritious foods in order to accommodate long storage and shipping. The consequence was a gradual breakdown in human health to foster the epidemic of deficiency diseases we have today. Dr Bouic says a turnaround is now possible. We must look again at both the cultures and the historical periods that lived to old age without disease and learn from them. Unless you're living on whole foods, organically grown in undamaged soil in a pristine environment, you will benefit from supplementing your daily diet with plant sterols along with your antioxidant regimen. They're available at your local health food store. Be sure to ask.
"Eat your vegetables" is not a trite phrase. It's sound advice. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce the risk of developing AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other ailments of civilization. Disease preventing agents in foods are vitamin E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, vitamin C, flavonoids and various phytoestrogens. However, none of these substances, except for vitamin C and vitamin E, has shown any great improvement in health when given individually in its pure form; other plant components must be present. Among these are sterols and sterolins. In fact, it's proven that these plant fats should be taken in conjunction with any drug or surgical therapy in order to support the immune system.
Plant fats are found in every fruit and vegetable. After 10 years of clinical trials on AIDS sufferers, Dr Patrick Bouic has discovered that the fats found in any plant will boost the immune systems of AIDS patients and thus extend their lives. The capsules should be taken along with an optimum dose of vitamins, minerals and other detoxifying and healing therapies. The encapsulated plant sterols and sterolins halt the rapid decline of the virus-fighting T-cells in immune defense and help keep the immune system active, which is crucial to recovery.
Source:
1999-2000 Healthy Immunity
www.HealthyImmunity.com
Reprinted with permission.
According to Brazilian researchers, a blend of amino acids can strengthen the immune system of elite triathletes. Thirty days of supplementation with branched chain amino acids (BCAA) was enough to reduce symptoms of infection by an impressive 34%.
The group were given either six grams of BCAA or a ‘dummy’ supplement thirty days before taking part in an Olympic triathlon (consisting of a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run). Endurance events typically require a high volume of training, and often involve multiple daily workouts-which can weaken the immune system. As such, any supplement offering protection against the ravages of training is something most athletes would find invaluable.
The main finding of the study was that the reduced incidence of infection was linked to higher levels of glutamine in the triathletes supplementing with the BCAA. For those of you who are interested, here's how the link between BCAA, glutamine and your immune system actually works:
In a series of chemical reactions (involving enzymes with some very long names), BCAA eventually produce glutamine. Your immune cells `feed' off glutamine-which is one reason why low levels of glutamine can weaken your immune system. These immune cells then produce interleukins (pronounced in-ter-loo-kins), which play a critical role in fighting infection. In simple terms, glutamine `fuels' the immune `engine'.
The table below shows the drop in plasma glutamine before and after the triathlon.
| Supplement | % drop in glutamine |
| BCAA | 1% |
| Placebo | 23% |
As you can see, glutamine levels dropped significantly in subjects who didn't use the BCAA. Based on these findings, it appears that BCAA supplements (3 grams twice daily) can strengthen your immune system during periods of intense training.
Bassit, R.A., Sawada, L.A., Bacurau, R.F.P., Navarro, F., & Costa Rosa, L.F.B.P. (2000). The effect of BCAA supplementation upon the immune system of triathletes. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, 32, 1214-1219.
Source:
Christian Finn, M.Sc.
Editor, Learn Fitness
www.thefactsaboutfitness.com