The relation between diet and the immune system

What is the role of nutrition on the immune system? Within the grant round "Nutrition-responsiveness of the immune system: interplay between infectious diseases and diet-related metabolic diseases and the potential for food-based solutions" (NUTRIMMUNE), 6 projects have been honoured to conduct research on this.

The international funding scheme is run by the Joint Programming Initiative 'a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life' (JPI HDHL). In the JPI HDHL, 20 countries cooperate in the field of nutrition, exercise and health. In February 2022, 8 JPI HDHL countries jointly launched a call for transnational research proposals in the fields of nutrition, the immune system, infectious diseases and chronic diseases. By April 2022, 25 research proposals had been submitted. After evaluation by a scientific expert panel, 6 projects were selected: DIYUFOOD, METARYL, OBESIMM, PreVegDiet, RESIST-PP, and TransInf. Dutch research groups are involved in 3 of the 6 projects.

DIYUFOOD, Leiden University Medical Centre

A healthy and balanced diet is essential for metabolic and immune health. Cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, affect the immune system, resulting in a higher risk of a more severe course of infections. The project will investigate the biological mechanisms of the underlying links between diet and diseases. For this, the researchers will use extensive data from four cohort studies from Israel, the Netherlands, the UK and China. This international project is conducted together with two other partners from Israel and the UK.

METARYL, Amsterdam University Medical Centres

People with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of wound infections after surgery involving their intestinal tract, such as gastric bypass and bowel diversion. These infections can be life-threatening. It is possible that intake of the amino acid Tryptophan, present in protein-rich foods, helps in the healing of the intestines and wounds after surgery. METARYL is therefore investigating whether this dietary amino acid can help patients with metabolic syndrome reduce post-surgery complications. Researchers from France and Germany are also participating in this international project.

TransInf, Radboud University Medical Centre

Being overweight can negatively affect immune system function. The result is decreased vaccine efficacy and a higher risk of serious infections. The TransInf project investigates whether nutrition can improve immune system function. Researchers from the Netherlands, France and Germany will study this in a group of overweight and non-overweight people in Tanzania. The TransInf project is partly a follow-up to the TransMic project that also partly took place in Tanzania.

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