Objectives

The task force focuses on markers of immune functions that are relevant to health and well-being. The objective of the task force is to improve the understanding of how nutrients can improve the immune system in healthy people, and to put together evidence for the validation of selected markers.

 

The work of the task force will provide insight into the mechanisms whereby nutrition influences immune status, with potential implications for health claims.

 

In 2009 the task force commissioned an extensive review of the molecular and cellular processes underlying distinct chronic inflammatory conditions. It summarises the evidence for the impact of dietary components such as long chain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, plant flavonoids, prebiotics and probiotics on these inflammatory processes (‘Inflammatory Disease Processes and Interactions with Nutrition’ British Journal of Nutrition 2009; 101(Suppl.1):S1-S45).

 

Another review commissioned by the task force summarises the immune function assays commonly used as markers in human intervention studies and evaluates their biological relevance (‘Markers to Measure Immunomodulation in Human Nutrition Intervention Studies’, British Journal of Nutrition 2005;94(3):452-481). The aim of the review was to define a set of relevant markers of immune functions that can be used to scientifically substantiate an improved resistance against infections. A range of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro measures is explained and scored for their suitability to assess dietary modulation of immune function. The paper concludes that combining clinical endpoints with a set of markers with high and medium suitability is the best approach to measure immunomodulation in human nutrition intervention studies.

 

The task force has recently updated the Concise Monograph on Nutrition and Immunity in Man. The new edition has a special focus on the effect of nutrition on the reduction of disease risk, including information about the effect of pre- and probiotics, fatty acids and vitamins on the immune system. The updated Concise Monograph will be widely distributed to scientists, health professionals, general practitioners, students and other interested parties.

 

Markers of Inflammation

This activity aims to evaluate markers of inflammation for their suitability. Today, clear recommendations on which markers of inflammation to use and how to interpret changes/patterns are missing. The heterogeneity of the tools used to assess the relationship between clinical symptoms and the biomarkers of inflammation is a significant limiting factor for the progress of knowledge on the impact of nutrition on chronic inflammatory responses. In particular, the task force would like to gain a better insight into good predictive markers of chronic inflammation. Ultimately, the activity could produce recommendations on markers to include in future studies and/or novel markers to develop/validate.

An expert group is developing a preliminary list of key biomarkers of inflammation, covering a selection of endpoints and life stages. A workshop will be organised in order to review and validate the markers with a broader audience. This activity will result in a peer-reviewed publication.

 

The aim of the workshop to be held on 14-15 May 2012 in Sevilla (ES) is to review and comment on the draft manuscript that has been prepared by the expert group, to help validate the conclusions presented in the manuscript. The main objective of the workshop is to review the experts’ work in listing biomarkers of inflammation and identifying emerging concepts in this area. By this approach, the workshop contributes to a better understanding of the current limitations and emerging opportunities for assessing inflammation. The goal of the workshop is to identify robust markers of inflammation and provide guidance to future studies assessing inflammation during nutritional studies in the general population.

Markers of Immuno-modulation for the General Population

It is known that immune markers are modulated within a certain range where it is still considered as safe. The lower and upper limits of this safe range are known for most of the immune markers from medical data. What is not always known is ‘how a certain ingredient can trigger a modulation’ and ‘how detrimental/beneficial this stimulation can be on the consumer’s health’. The Nutrition and Immunity Task Force together with the Probiotics Task Force commissioned an expert group to provide relevant markers and reference values in context of immuno-modulation induced by a dietary intervention within the healthy population.

 

A workshop will be held on 16 and 17 April 2012 with the objectives firstly to invite external experts to review the work done by the group. Secondly, it is aimed to propose scenarios for interpreting results observed during a trial. By this approach, the workshop contributes to a better understanding of the current limitations and insight in emerging opportunities for assessing immune modulation. It will thus promote further consensus on valuable and accessible markers for conducting intervention trials.

 

The outcome will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The publication will summarise the markers reflecting normal function of the immune system which are indicative for immune modulation by nutrients/bio-active ingredients. It will also include proposals for interpreting variations in these markers.