Author(s)

Sorayya Kheirvari, Mohammad Alizadeh

Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, I. R. Iran.
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, I. R. Iran.

Simultaneous zinc and vitamin A deficiency are common health problems in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess effect of supplementation of high zinc or vitamin A on immune function. After three months of feeding with a zinc and vitamin A deficient diet, mice were assigned into four groups which, for additional two months, received a normal or high zinc along with vitamin A deficient diet and a normal or high vitamin A along with zinc deficient diet. Serum and intestinal mucosa immunoglobulin A (IgA) were determined and supernatants of splenocytes were used to assess interlukin (IL)-2, IL-5, IFN-γ. Mice maintained on zinc deficient diet with normal or high vitamin A resulted in significantly lower production of IFN-γ. Also, supplementation of high dose vitamin A augmented production of the cytokine as compared to normal intake of the vitamin. Supplementation of either normal or high zinc along with low vitamin A diet significantly led to higher production of IFN-γ as compared to those receiving zinc limited but adequate vitamin A. High intake of zinc along with vitamin A deficient diet significantly enhanced secretion of IL-2. Levels of serum and mucosal IgA and IL-5 were not be significantly modulated. Moreover, animals fed with high doses of zinc showed increased IL-2 production than those that had normal intake of zinc. Results indicated that zinc and vitamin A supplementation up-regulates production of T-cell cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-2.

Zinc; Vitamin A; IgA; IL-5; IL-2; IFN-γ

S. Kheirvari and M. Alizadeh, "Alteration in T-Cell Cytokine Production by Vitamin A and Zinc Supplementation in Mice," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 8, 2012, pp. 1060-1067. doi: 10.4236/fns.2012.38141.