Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Immunol. Mar 27, 2014; 4(1): 12-19
Published online Mar 27, 2014. doi: 10.5411/wji.v4.i1.12
Circulating immune cell activation and diet: A review on human trials
Gemma Chiva-Blanch, Ramon Estruch
Gemma Chiva-Blanch, Ramon Estruch, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Gemma Chiva-Blanch, Ramon Estruch, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
Author contributions: Chiva-Blanch G substantially contributed to the conception and design and drafted the article; Estruch R revised it critically for important intellectual content; and Chiva-Blanch G and Estruch R finally approved the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Ramon Estruch, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. restruch@clinic.ub.es
Telephone: +34-93-2275400 Fax: +34-93-2279365
Received: October 21, 2013
Revised: December 5, 2013
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2014
Processing time: 155 Days and 16.7 Hours
Abstract

Protein energy malnutrition is the main cause of immunodeficiency and, secondarily, of several infections. However, immune cell activation is involved in several pathophysiological processes that play a crucial role in the appearance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer. The aim of this review is to update the knowledge of the modulation of immune cell activation by different dietary patterns and its components focusing on CVD or cancer. While a westernized high-saturated fat high-carbohydrate diet is positively associated with low-grade inflammation, vegetable- and fruit-based diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, key nutrients of Mediterranean diet, decrease the levels of cellular and circulating inflammatory biomarkers thereby reducing the risk of related chronic diseases.

Keywords: Mediterranean diet; Immune cell activation; Leukocyte adhesion; Inflammation; Fatty acids; Fruits; Vegetables; Polyphenols; Cardiovascular disease; Cancer

Core tip: Immune cell activation is involved in several pathophysiological processes that play a crucial role in the appearance of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The aim of this review is to update the knowledge of the modulation of immune cell activation by different dietary patterns. A westernized high-saturated fat high-carbohydrate diet is positively associated with low-grade inflammation, but a Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables and fruits decrease the levels of cellular and circulating inflammatory biomarkers thereby reducing the risk of related chronic diseases.