Nutritional Supplements as Immunomodulators in Childhood: A Literature Review

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María C. Rueda-Rodríguez
Juan Sebastián Arjona
Carolina Soto-Salazar
Melissa De Castro
Camilo Castañeda-Cardona
Diego Rosselli

Abstract

DOI: 10.1016/j.rcpe.2016.09.002


Introduction


Infectious and allergic diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality in early childhood in Colombia. Among the options considered for prevention and control are nutritional supplements based on probiotics, trace elements, antioxidants, and long chain fatty acids.


Methods


A literature review was conducted in the PubMed and EMBASE databases, looking for studies that had analysed the use of nutritional supplements and the performance of the immune system in children. The terms used were: “Dietary supplements” AND “Immune System” AND (“infant” OR “child” OR “adolescent”).


Results


The initial search yielded a total of 255 references, 54 of which were used to extract information. A significant number of publications on the benefits of long-chain fatty acids, micronutrients and probiotics on the immune system in children, measured different outcomes (many of them “intermediate”), and had small sample sizes.


Conclusions


The use of nutritional supplements could have a benefit, from the immunological point of view, in the paediatric patient. Further studies on the subject are required.


 

 

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How to Cite
Rueda-Rodríguez, M. C., Arjona, J. S., Soto-Salazar, C., De Castro, M., Castañeda-Cardona, C., & Rosselli, D. (2017). Nutritional Supplements as Immunomodulators in Childhood: A Literature Review. Pediatría, 49(4), 103–109. Retrieved from https://revistapediatria.org/rp/article/view/5
Section
Review topics

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