A recent discovery indicates that specific T-cells, a type of white blood cells, exhibit enhanced functionality following a meal.
These T-cells act as a tiny army poised to eliminate viruses, bacteria, or precancerous cells within the body, as explained by Greg Delgoffe, an immunologist affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
The results, released in April through the journal Nature, suggest that eating plays a crucial role in combating infections. This discovery could aid researchers in enhancing immune therapies and assist doctors in scheduling vaccinations more effectively.
“Napoleon famously remarked that an army marches on its stomach, meaning you must feed your troops … and that is precisely what we observed in the immune system,” stated Delgoffe, a senior figure in the study, during an interview with host Bob McDonald on Quirks & Quarks.
Comparison between Fasted T-cells and Fed T-cells
For this study, researchers obtained blood samples from 31 healthy volunteers twice in the same day: in the morning after fasting overnight and six hours later after consuming a meal. Following the meal, the T-cells exhibited enhanced absorption of fats and sugars, along with more efficient energy production in their mitochondria, demonstrating the tangible impact of a meal.
Subsequent experiments conducted on mice showed that fed mice also generated more memory cells, a specialized subset of T-cells that identify previous encountered pathogens such as viruses or bacteria.
Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for overall health, whether combating a cold or cancer.– Russell Jones, chair of metabolism and nutritional programming at Van Andel Institute
Upon activation by an external threat like a virus or bacteria, a T-cell undergoes rapid growth and division to proliferate rapidly throughout the body to combat the infection. This substantial cell expansion exerts significant metabolic demands, contributing to the fatigue experienced during illnesses, according to Delgoffe.
Delgoffe acknowledged a limitation of their study, highlighting the lack of control over participants’ diet; however, the post-meal effects on T-cells remained consistent irrespective of the consumed food. It was observed that a well-rounded diet provided the most substantial enhancement.
