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Sensitivity of the Immunological Response to the Nutritional Status of Rats¹

Nutrition and Food Sciences, Family Life Building, Institute for Man and His Environment, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84321

Although it is well known that severe dietary deficiencies of protein or vitamins depress antibody synthesis, no information is available showing the sensitivity of antibody response to small differences in nutrient intake. Very little information is available on the effect of mineral deficiencies on antibody production. Weanling male rats were used for testing the sensitivity of antibody production to small differences in dietary intake. In preliminary experiment 1 it was shown that as the nutritional quality of the diet is reduced by progressively diluting the diet with sucrose in 10% increments, the production of antibodies is decreased proportionally. In experiment 2, it was found that as the level of iron in the diet is progressively decreased in 10% increments, the production of antibodies also is decreased proportionally. Antibody production appeared more sensitive to decreases in dietary iron than hemoglobin, serum iron, serum proteins, liver iron or body weight. In experiment 3 the level of dietary calcium did not affect antibody production when fed with or without vitamin D. It is suggested that the immunological response be examined as a possible screening device for general malnutrition.

KEY WORDS: • nutritional status • antibody production • immunological response • iron • calcium • vitamin D

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Utah State Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal article no. 1211.

² To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 24 September 1971.

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