Calorie restriction enhances T-cell-mediated immune response in adult overweight men and women

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Nov;64(11):1107-13. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glp101. Epub 2009 Jul 28.

Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) enhances immune response and prolongs life span in animals. However, information on the applicability of these results to humans is limited. T-cell function declines with age. We examined effects of CR on T-cell function in humans. Forty-six overweight, nonobese participants aged 20-42 years were randomly assigned to 30% or 10% CR group for 6 months. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), T-cell proliferation (TP), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) productions were determined before and after CR. DTH and TP to T-cell mitogens were increased in both groups over baseline (p < or = .019). However, number of positive responses to DTH antigens (p = .016) and TP to anti-CD3 reached statistical significance only after 30% CR (p = .001). Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PGE(2) was reduced in both groups but reached statistical significance after 30% CR (p < or = .029). These results, for the first time, show that 6-month CR in humans improves T-cell function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Caloric Restriction*
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / epidemiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Overweight / immunology*
  • Sex Characteristics
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Dinoprostone