Speaker @ 7th International Immunonutrition Workshop

7th International Immunonutrition Workshop
Carovigno, Italy
02/05/2014

ILSI Europe was pleased to participate at the 7th International Immunonutrition Workshop.

PRESENTATION

A speaker presented the latest work of the Nutrition and Immunity Task Force on 2nd of May:

SESSION: Assessment of Immune Status
SPEAKER: Prof. Philip Calder (University of Southampton, UK)
TITLE: Biomarkers of immunity and inflammation for use in nutrition interventions: ILSI Europe work on selection criteria and interpretation

Abstract
Background/Introduction: There is a need for guidance on the assessment and interpretation of immune markers in nutrition studies. However, there exists no consensus as to which markers best represent the various domains of immunity, including acute, chronic or low-grade inflammation.

Objectives and Method: ILSI Europe commissioned several Expert Groups (EGs) comprising individuals from academia, government and the food industry to prepare guidance documents. The initial EG identified robust and predictive markers, or patterns or clusters of markers, which can be used to assess inflammation in human nutrition studies in the general population. A second EG focused on the practical implementation and evaluation of immune markers in nutrition interventions.

Results: There are a number of modifying factors that affect the concentration of an inflammatory marker at a given time; these include age, body fatness, physical (in)activity, sex, smoking, genetics and microbiota composition. Probably most informative is measuring concentration changes in response to a challenge. Patterns and clusters may be important as robust biomarkers of inflammation. Scaled criteria to evaluate usefulness of immune markers in a structured manner were defined, including for control of low-grade inflammation. The most useful markers were classified depending on whether by themselves they signify clinical relevance AND/OR involvement of immune function. Five theoretical scenarios were proposed describing potential changes in marker values compared to a relevant reference. Finally, all elements were combined providing a framework to aid the design and interpretation of studies assessing effects of nutrition on immune function.

Conclusion: The step-wise approach offers a rationale for selecting markers of immunomodulation, including inflammation, for future trials and helps to provide a framework for the interpretation of outcomes.

To download the presentation, please click here.

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For more information on this event, please visit www.immunonutritionworkshop.com.