Symposium on diet, nutrition and immunity

The symposium on Diet, Nutrition and Immunity held in Singapore on April, 2008, reviewed the current scientific information on the development of the immune system particularly in infancy and the role of diet, exercise and aging on immunocompetence, together with the molecular processes involved. The importance of specific nutrients particularly zinc and iron, vitamins D and E and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on enhancing immunity, as well as the significance of maintaining a healthy microbiota in the gut leading to the concept of pro- and pre-biotics was discussed. Of interest was the presentation of studies on some common Asian foods such as soybeans, wolfberry, and mushroom that may have application in the prevention and treatment of disease involving inflammatory responses.