The effect of nutritional status on immune capacity and immune responses in preschool children in a rural community in India.

Abstract

Cell-mediated immune response (CMI) and several aspects of humoral immune status and response were measured and related to nutritional status in preschool children in north India. CMI was measured by means of postvaccinal (BCG) tuberculin sensitivity and leucocytic blast cell transformation. Humoral immune response was measured by means of tetanus antibody production following vaccination with diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine. Immunoglobulins A, G, and M and complement (C(3)) were also determined. CMI, serum IgA, and C(3) were found to be directly correlated with weight-for-age status.