Immunodeficiencies Caused by Protein Malnutrition
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What is immunodeficiency?
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The human body's immune system protects itself from potentially harmful antigens like cancer cells, microorganisms, toxins, and blood and tissue from another human being. White blood cells and immunoglobulins are part of the immune system and help by destroying foreign material in the body. Immunodeficiency is when your immune system lacks response to foreign antibodies and fails to fight off invading substances. Immunodeficiency can cause a normally simple and mild illness to turn persistent, recurrent, severe and sometimes fatal.
Immunodeficiencies caused by protein malnutrition
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Malnutrition is the most common cause of immunodeficiency worldwide. Nutrition is an imperative determinant of immune responses. Protein-energy malnutrition develops when the body is not sufficiently satisfied with its nutritional needs. Protein deficiency can still occur if a person's diet provides enough energy but lacks protein; however, the deficiency is more likely to be dual, lacking both energy and protein. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with significant cell mediated immunity, white blood cell function and cytokine production. Even a deficiency of single nutrients can result in an altered immune response to foreign substances. Micro-nutrients like iron, copper, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E and B-6 all have important influences on immune response.
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Facts about protein malnutrition
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Protein malnutrition commonly develops in the elderly or children whose parents are poor. The intensity of protein malnutrition is dependent on the person's prior nutritional status. Doctors quantify a person's nutritional status and detect abnormalities by comparing standardized norms to your height and weight, calculating your body mass index (BMI) and measuring skin-fold thickness of the upper arm. Adequate nutrition can restore normal body composition.
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