Figure 1.

Overview of the immune response. The human immune system is comprised of both the innate and adaptive defenses. The innate immunity acts rapidly as the first line of protection to abate the establishment of overt infection with a goal for rapid elimination of infectious agents. The recognition of the presence of pathogens is mediated via the expression of nonspecific pattern-recognition receptors and not influenced by prior exposure and annihilation of invading pathogens occurs through direct destruction (complement system) and phagocytosis (immune cells). Although slow at first when encountering a microorganism for the first time, the adaptive immunity response is faster and stronger than the initial response when the microorganism is encountered again (i.e., re-infection) as it draws from its immunological memory from prior exposure to the antigenic components of the microorganism. Oats contain several nutrients that participate in both the innate and adaptive immune systems including fiber, micronutrients (e.g., zinc, iron, copper, and selenium), polyphenols, and proteins.