Nutrition-Infection Interactions and Impacts on Human Health

This book provides a summary of the current state-of-the-art evidence of nutrition-infection interactions, including relevant clinical and basic science research and its impact on health and disease. It explores the role of nutrition in health and disease as well as effects of both under and over nutrition. Chapters cover roles of GI microbiota, enteric syndromes, immune-nutrients, pro/pre and postbiotics, HIV infection, nutrient-drug interactions, infection-nutrient interactions in special populations, and identifying future research directions for nutritional and anti-infective strategies.

Nutrition and infection are often at a crossroads, interacting with each other and influencing human health. Infection is a major health problem and nutritional deficiency plays a significant role in increasing the risk of infection. Nutrition–Infection Interactions and Impacts on Human Health presents state-of-the-art evidence on nutrition–infection interactions and their impact on health and disease.

The book explores a wide range of topics including the effects of infection on nutrition—a common occurrence in the developing world—and nutrient–infection interactions for specific infections including HIV, TB, malaria, and parasitic infections. These are reviewed with a special emphasis on nutritional interventions.

Also covered is the role of the gastrointestinal tract and its influence on nutrition, focusing on the human gastrointestinal microbiota, enteric syndromes, probiotics, and immunonutrients.

The book discusses infection–nutrition interactions in special age groups such as children, adolescents, and the elderly.

It also reviews emerging nutritional and anti-infective strategies with an emphasis on future research directions. The book is useful for epidemiologists, nutritionists, and health care staff caring for patients. The book’s broad scope allows for its applicability to both the developed and the developing world.