Circulating immune cell activation and diet: A review on human trials

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that diet plays an important role in the prevention of several low-grade inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity. All of these diseases are characterized by elevated concentrations of markers in the systemic circulation [e.g: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins, fibrinogen and adhesion molecules including E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular adhesion protein-1 (VCAM-1)]. This review focuses on the evidence obtained from epidemiological, dietary intervention and supplementation studies in humans supporting the role of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and other specific components of the diet in the prevention or delay of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Thus, we provide an update of the knowledge of the relationship between diet and the modulation of immune cell activation by different dietary patterns and also highlight the importance of the overall quality and composition of the diet to protect against the previously mentioned disorders.