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eCAM Advance Access originally published online on October 20, 2005
eCAM 2005 2(4):513-520; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh125
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© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed; the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given; if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative work this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions{at}oxfordjournals.org

Review

Natural Health Products, Modulation of Immune Function and Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Pierre S. Haddad1,2,5,*, Georges A. Azar3, Simon Groom4 and Michel Boivin1,5

1Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, 2001 McGill College Suite 1000, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal 2900 Edouard-Montpetit, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Université de Montréal 2900 Edouard-Montpetit, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 4Department of Human Nutrition, Macdonald College, McGill University Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, and 5Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital St-Luc 1058 St-Denis, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The immune system is increasingly found to be involved in the development of several chronic illnesses, for which allopathic medicine has provided limited tools for treatment and especially prevention. In that context, it appears worthwhile to target the immune system in order to modulate the risk of certain chronic illnesses. Meanwhile, natural health products (NHPs) are generating renewed interest, particularly in the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases. Over 20 scientists from fields related to immune function and NHPs were thus convened to establish the state of knowledge on these subjects and to explore future research directions. This review summarizes the result of discussions held during the symposium. It thus seeks to be thought provoking rather than to comprehensively cover such broad areas of research. Notably, a brief overview of the immune system is presented, including potentially useful targets and strategies to keep it in an equilibrated state, in order to prevent certain disorders. The pertinence and limitations of targeting the immune system to prevent chronic diseases is also discussed. The paper then discusses the usefulness and limitations of current experimental tools available to study the immune modulating effects of NHPs. Finally, a concise review of some of the most studied NHPs showing promising immunomodulatory activity is given, and avenues for future research are described.

Keywords: NK cells – Cytokines – Microparticles – Probiotics – Natraprevention – Vitamins – n-3 fatty acids – Green tea – Echinacea – Ginseng

*For reprints and all correspondence: Pierre S. Haddad, Research Coordinator, Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1G1. Tel: +514-380-2001 ext. 1098; Fax: +514-380-8434; E-mail: pierre.haddad{at}umontreal.ca


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