Journal of Immunology Research · 12 authors, 3 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This narrative review examines how dietary minerals—including zinc, copper, iron, selenium, magnesium, and manganese—support innate and adaptive immune function and regulate inflammation. The authors conclude that a balanced diet typically provides adequate minerals, but targeted supplementation may be needed for vulnerable populations, while cautioning against excessive intake.
This narrative review synthesizes literature on the roles of zinc, copper, iron, selenium, magnesium, and manganese in immune function and inflammation regulation. The authors describe how each mineral contributes to innate and adaptive immune responses, noting that inadequate levels can temporarily impair immune competence and disrupt long-term regulation of systemic inflammation. The review emphasizes that a well-balanced diet is generally sufficient to meet mineral needs, though specific vulnerable populations should ensure adequate intake. In rare cases of deficiency, supplementation may be warranted but should be medically supervised, as excessive intake of certain mineral supplements can have adverse effects on the immune system. Key limitations include single-author study selection using convenience sampling without systematic methodology, no original clinical data generation, and reliance on narrative synthesis rather than systematic review or meta-analytic pooling.
