Early in human history, nutrition and pharmacology were closely linked as people derived their medicines directly from natural foods. In recent times these two fields have evolved separately, but today, food and pharma are once again becoming interrelated. Reliable research is needed if nutrition is used as a component of disease management. A translational research approach is recommended including risk-benefit analyses, a safety record and well-designed studies that start at the molecular level and proceed, via in vitro and in vivo experiments, to clinical trials.
Nutrition has a valuable role in preventing and managing multi-factorial disease processes, complementing rather than replacing pharmacological treatment. Immune related disorders may benefit particularly from a nutritional approach since the major part of the immune system is localised around the gastro-intestinal tract. A good example of effective and safe immunonutrition’ is breast milk, which contains many components with a positive impact on the immune system.
Oligosaccharides, abundantly present in breast milk, have been investigated intensively by our group. A unique mixture of short chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long chain fructo-oligosaccharides was shown to improve immune function at multiple levels of defense including physical/chemical barriers, innate and adaptive immunity. Recent research indicates that regulatory T cells and TLR receptors play a role in the observed beneficial effects in animal models for infection, inflammation and allergy. In clinical trials with young infants the beneficial effects were reproduced and validated. Because of the immunological potential of carbohydrates, preclinical and clinical studies are ongoing, aiming to improve health in cancer, HIV and the elderly.
This is a summary of the presentation given by Professor Johan Garssen at the recent Nutricia Satellite Symposium, ESPEN 2009 held in Vienna on Sunday 30th August 2009.
Professor Johan Garssen is Research Program Leader in “Immunopharmacology” at the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, and Director of the Immunology Platform at Danone Research Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.