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Nutrition for Treatment and Prevention of Immunodeficiency and Genetical Disorders

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge about human’s immune system, its function, components and diagnostic possibilities, clinical signs of immune efficiency, laboratory diagnostic methods.
Tasks of the course:
1) to acquaint students with the role of various nutritional components on human immunity;
2) to educate about the consequences of vitamins, proteins and minerals insufficiency in immune function disturbances;

3) to increase knowledge about diet role on genetic factors and nutrition in the chronic diseases.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge:
1) to understand the role of immunity in the pathogenesis of diseases, as well as the influence of the nutrition compounds on the therapy plan.
Skills:
2) ability to evaluate an individual immunity and to understand the role of nutrition to immunity;
3) ability to know immune system components and their reaction, the role of nutrition compounds on immunity;
Competencies:

4) students are able to assess the induvial immunity, and to develop the individualized nutrition plan in specific cases of immunodeficiency.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. The structure and functions of the human immune system. L4 S2
2. Immunodeficiency’s, their causes, including the role of nutritional factors. The clinical signs and the diagnostic methods of immunodeficiency’s. L2 S6
3. Immune system evaluation tests. S2
4. The role of food components in the development of immunodeficiency’s in children. The immunology of human milk. S2
5. Immune system disturbances in protein energy malnutrition. Malnutrition and immunodeficiency in elderly people. S4
6. The influence of fat and carbohydrates on immune function. The immunity of adipose tissues. S2
7. The influence of the most important food mineral components (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) on the functions of the human immune system. S4
8. The consequences of vitamin deficit in immune function disturbances. S2
9. Nutritional modulation of autoimmune diseases. S2
Seminars
1st seminar. The functions of the human immune system.
2nd seminar. The diagnostic methods of immunodeficiency’s.
3rd seminar. Immune system evaluation tests.
4th seminar. The immunology of human milk.
5th seminar. Malnutrition and immunodeficiency in elderly people.
6th seminar. The immunity of adipose tissues.
7th seminar. The influence of the most important food mineral components on the functions of the human immune system.
8th seminar. The consequences of vitamin deficit in immune function disturbances.

9th seminar. Nutritional modulation of autoimmune diseases.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Compulsory attendance in lectures and seminars, successfully completed tests (2), oral presentation of individual work and successfully passed exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students’ independent work is organized on individual basis and /or in working groups by assigning the following tasks:
1) to prepare independently for seminars;

2) to make a presentation, analysing one of nutritional components influence on immune system function.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Awarding credits:
1) intermediate tests – 30%;
2) presentation of individual work – 30%;

3) exam (written) – 40%.

Compulsory reading

1. Klīniskā imunoloģija (2012) Prof. A.Lejnieka redakcijā. Rīga, Medicīnas apgāds.
2. Chapel, H., Haeney, M., Mishach, S. (2006) Essentials of clinical immunology. 5th edit. Willey-Blacwell.
3. Immunology (2006). Edit. D.Male, J.Brostoff, D.Roth, I.Roitt. 7th edition. Mosby.
4. Nutrient Modulation of the Immune Response (1993). Edit. S. Cunningham-Rundles. CRC Press.
5. The Genetic Basis of Common disease (2002). Edit. R.A. King, A.G. Rotter. 2nd ed. Oxford University press, 2002.
6. Diet and human Immune Function (2004) Edit. D.A. Hydhes, L.G. Darlington, A. Bendich. Springer.
7. Fuhrman, J. (2011) Super Immunity. The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free. Harper Collins Publisher.

8. Immunonutrition. Interactions of Diet, Genetics and Inflammation (2014) Edit. B.B. Aggarwal, D. Heber. CRC Press.

Further reading

1. Handbook of Nutrition and Immunity (2004) Edit. M.E. Gershwin, P. Nestel, K. Keen. Springer.
2. Nutrition and immunology (2011) Edit. E.Gerswin, J.B. German, L.C. Keen. Human Press.

3. Fuhrman, J. (2011) Super immunity audio books. Harper Colins Publisher.

Periodicals and other sources

1. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
3. Journal of Clinical Nutrition
4. The New England Journal of Medicine,
http://content.nejm.org/