EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDATIVE VITAMINS ON IMMUNE FUNCTION WITH CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS

Infection and trauma cause inflammatory stress in patients. Tissue dam age, enhanced inflammatory mediator production and suppressed lymphocy te function may occur as a consequence. The antioxidative vitamins, as corbic acid and the tocopherols, are important not only for limiting t issue damage but also in preventing increased cytokine production whic h is a consequence of excessive activation of NF kappa B. Glutathione is a major endogenous antioxidant and is important for lymphocyte repl ication. Two vitamins, vitamin B-6 and riboflavin participate in the m aintainance of glutathione status. The former vitamin acts as a cofact or in the synthesis of cysteine (the rate limiting precursor for gluta thione biosynthesis) and the latter vitamin is a cofactor for glutathi one reductase. Deficiencies in tocopherol, vitamin B-6 and riboflavin reduce cell numbers in lymphoid tissues of experimental animals and pr oduce functional abnormalities in the cell mediated immune response. A scorbic acid and tocopherols exert anti-inflammatory effects in studie s in man and animals. In humans, dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid, tocopherols and vitamin B-6 enhances a number of aspects of lym phocyte function. The effect is most apparent in the elderly.