Consuming a diet that is low in caloric intake may lead to improved function in ones immune system, according to a study published in the Journal of Gerontology, Biological Sciences.
Previous studies have found that as people grow older, there is a decline in their immune systems. Over the years, researchers have conducted trials using animals, and found that calorie-restriction can lead to improvements in the immune system.
For six months, a total of 46 overweight patients aged 20 to 40 years old were asked to eat a low-caloric diet to see if similar results would occur in humans. During the study, a team of researchers from Tufts University in Boston observed how the diet affected white blood cells, which protect the body against infection. The team also measured each individuals immune response using a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test.
The investigators found that short-term diets that restrict caloric intake improved the function of T-cells, the most common form of white blood cells.
Approximately 23.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from autoimmune diseases, according the National Institutes of Health.