TABLE 3.

Summary of the effects of selected micronutrients on different aspects of immunity¹

Micronutrient	Role in barrier function	Role in cellular aspects of innate immunity	Role in T-cell–mediated immunity	Role in B-cell–mediated immunity
Vitamin C	Promotes collagen synthesis and connective tissue healing; protects against oxidative damage; promotes wound healing	Supports function of neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages including phagocytosis; promotes neutrophil chemotaxis; supports NK-cell activity	Promotes production, differentiation and proliferation of T cells, especially cytotoxic T cells; regulates IFN-γ production	Promotes production and proliferation of B cells; promotes antibody production
Vitamin D	Promotes epithelial integrity; promotes production of antimicrobial proteins (cathelicidin, β-defensin); promotes homing of T cells to the skin	Promotes differentiation of monocytes to macrophages; promotes macrophage phagocytosis, oxidative burst and bacterial killing; supports NK-cell activity	Promotes antigen processing but can inhibit antigen presentation; can inhibit T-cell proliferation, Th1-cell function, and cytotoxic T-cell function; promotes the development of regulatory T cells; inhibits differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells; regulates IFN-γ production	Can decrease antibody production
Vitamin E	Protects against oxidative damage	Reduces inflammation; supports NK-cell activity; promotes neutrophil phagocytosis	Promotes interaction between dendritic cells and T cells; promotes T-cell proliferation and function, especially Th1 cells; regulates (promotes) IL-2 production	Supports antibody production
Zinc	Maintains integrity of the skin and mucosal membranes; Promotes complement activity	Reduces inflammation; supports monocyte and macrophage phagocytosis; promotes formation of neutrophil extracellular traps; supports NK-cell activity	Promotes Th1-cell response; promotes proliferation of cytotoxic T cells; promotes development of regulatory T cells; regulates (promotes) IL-2 and IFN-γ production; reduces development of Th9 and Th17 cells	Supports antibody production, IgG
Selenium	—	Reduces inflammation; supports NK-cell activity	Regulates differentiation and proliferation of T cells; regulates (promotes) IFN-γ production	Supports antibody production

¹Adapted from reference 2. Th, T-helper;