How could diet affect the immune system and susceptibility to infectious disease?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Malnutrition, which is characterized by inadequate calorie and protein intake, is a primary cause of immunodeficiency and heightens the risk of infectious diseases. Additionally, deficiencies in specific micronutrients such as vitamins A, E, and D, folate, and zinc can further increase susceptibility to infections.

    Malnutrition, the inadequate intake of calories and/or protein, is the most common cause of immunodeficiency, which increases the risk of contracting an infectious disease. Similarly, being deficient in certain micronutrients, especially vitamin-a, vitamin-e, vitamin-d, folate, and zinc, increases susceptibility to infections.[1] Consumption of raw, unwashed, inadequately cooked, or contaminated plant material, dairy, or meat is a common mode of acquiring infections from microbes like E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, hepatitis A virus, norovirus, poliovirus, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, roundworms, pinworms, and tapeworms.