THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN VIRAL DISEASE

Malnutrition has been associated with a decrease in immune function. I mpairment of immune function may lead to increased susceptibility to i nfection with viruses. Although there are many studies documenting the effect of host nutritional status on immune functions, fewer studies have examined the effect of host nutritional status on viral pathogene sis. This review examines the relationship between viral infection and the nutritional status of the the host, and documents that not only c an the nutritional status of the host affect immune function, bur can have profound effects an, the virus itself One mechanism by which nutr itional status affects the virulence of the viral pathogen involves se lection for virulent viral genotypes. Other mechanisms remain to be el ucidated. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1996