Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Hi folks: THIS MAY (POSSIBLY) TURN OUT TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT STUDY. Experience with viral infections in mice suggests that viral immunity may be impaired during caloric restriction because of inadequate energy reserves reflected in low body weight. That seems to be in conflict with anecdotal reports here of fewer cases of viral infections since starting CR. Nevertheless, if this study is accurate and applies to humans, then it likely will have important implications if Avian Flu ever arrives. The implications might be that one should eat considerably more temporarily, to increase energy reserves, if there is a realistic possibility of catching a serious type of flu. May 2006. PMID: 16614394. " Malnutrition and Energy Restriction Differentially Affect viral Immunity " . The comments associated with FIGURE 1 in the study are: " FIGURE 1. Weight loss occurs in mice with influenza infection due to a decrease in energy intake and an increase in energy demands. Young and aged mice can lose up to 35% of their body weight and recover from infection, which suggests a critical weight indicative of sufficient energy reserves to recover from infection. Lifelong ER results in a 30% decrease in starting weight that may be only marginally above this critical threshold. In the case of aged ER mice, 100% mortality was observed by day 7, before an adaptive T cell response, suggesting a primary influence of underweight on innate immunity. " When asked whether sufficient energy supplies could be maintained by extra feeding, either by mouth or intravenously, either before or during a flu infection, the author's reply was: " ....................... In our next studies, we are doing precisely what you have asked: to determine if the immune response to influenza can be restored by refeeding prior to infection. We suspect that it will, but have no data to support our hypothesis. Stay tuned for our next study. " It would be a pity for us all to succumb to Avian Flu because of inadequate energy reserves available to fight the infection. Rodney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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