Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40362777›Full record

ReviewNutrients2025

Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Malnutrition: Effects of Nutrition on Immune Function in Infants and Young Children.

R J Joost van Neerven

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

R J Joost van NeervenCell Biology and Immunology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3991-5297

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The function of the immune system is not only dependent on factors like genetics, age, the environment, and exposure to infectious agents and allergens but also on our microbiota and our diet. It has been known for centuries that food can influence health and vulnerability to infection. This is especially true for infants, young children, and the elderly. This review focuses on how nutrition can support immune function from gestation to school-aged children. Immune support begins during pregnancy by the mother's diet and transfer of nutritional components as well as antibodies to her fetus. After birth, breastfeeding is of crucial importance for immune development as well as for the development of the intestinal microbiota of an infant. If breastfeeding is not possible, early-life formulas are an alternative. These can provide several of the functionalities of breastmilk, as well as the key nutrients a child needs. New foods are introduced during and after weaning, and after this period, children switch to consuming a normal diet. However, due to circumstances, children can be malnourished. This can range from severe protein/energy malnutrition to micronutrient deficiencies and obesity, all of which can affect the function of the immune system. This narrative review describes the immune challenges in early life, explores breastfeeding and early life nutrition, and provides mechanistic insight into the relative contribution of macronutrients, micronutrients and other immunomodulatory food components that can support immune function in early life.

Indexed as

Child Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaImmune SystemInfant Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaMalnutritionMicronutrientsNutrientsNutritional StatusBreast FeedingChild, PreschoolDietFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaternal Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaMicronutrientsNutrientsallergychildrenformula feedingimmune statusinfantsinfectionmacronutrientsmalnutritionmicronutrientsmilkmineralsoligosaccharidesvitamins

Identifiers

PMID40362777
PMCPMC12073586

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.