The role of nutrition in viral disease
1996
Beck, M.A.
Malnutrition has been associated with a decrease in immunefunction. Impairment of immune function may lead to increased susceptibiliy, to infection with viruses. Although there are many studies documenting the effect of host nutritional status on immunefunctions, fewer studies have examined the effect of host nutritional status on viral pathogenesis. This review examines the relationship between viral infection and the nutritional status of the host, and documents that not only can the nutritional status of the host affect immune function, but can have profound effects on the virus itself. One mechanism by which nutritional status affects the virulence of the viral pathogen involves selection for virulent viral genotypes. Other mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
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