134 Ingredients That Modify the Immune System

Abstract Companion animal diets have moved beyond providing complete nutrition for growth or maintenance and into functional outcomes that maintain improve health longevity. Select dietary ingredients additional effects, intended not, on physiology immune function. Many immune-altering nutrients are fats fat-soluble, including omega-3 fatty acids, essential oils, phytogenic compounds, Vitamins A, E, D. Examples of other related to which the system is responsive include zinc, probiotics. Because composition inclusion rate these impact function physiology, a focused intentional selection specific one method alter inflammatory cascades in animals consuming diet. While work human, livestock, companion models working identify therapeutic rates ingredients, it should be noted physiological alterations nutrient-specific seen both over under-inclusion. For example, above currently recommended levels may optimize reduce inflammation case vitamin D PUFA, while pharmacological supplementation requirements inhibit Probiotics need specifically selected included continuously maximal benefit. When choosing formulate an anti-inflammatory diet long-lived animals, must also considered important “background” functions system, monitoring clearing pathogenic microbial populations, downregulated due general reduction reactivity. Continued understand how immunity, balance through nutrition, area active research will inform downstream users best use data consumers feed desirable ways.