JAKARTA – Micronutrients are contained in vitamins and minerals that play an important role in the body’s metabolic processes so that the body’s organs function normally. The body’s immune system has the ability to fight infection by eliminating the work of toxins and other virulence factors that are antigenic and immunogenic.
Immunogenic is the property of a compound capable of stimulating the formation of special antibodies that are protective and increase cellular immunity. If the immune system is weakened, the ability to protect the body is reduced, so pathogens, including viruses, play a role in the body’s growth and development.
Some vitamins function as coenzymes responsible for carrying out essential chemical reactions. Note that most vitamins and minerals cannot be synthesized by the body. Therefore, it must be obtained from foods, especially fruits, vegetables and animal feed.
Following are the roles of nutrients in the body’s immune system:
1. The role of vitamin A in the immune system
Vitamin A plays an important role in the maintenance of epithelial cells. The role of vitamin A in the nonspecific immune system can be seen in the integrity of the epithelial mucosa which has often been described by Sommer, Tarwotjo and Karyadi et alFurthermore, it has a role in cellular immunity.
2. The role of vitamin C in the immune system
The role of vitamin C in the immune system is closely related to the role of vitamin C as an antioxidant. Since vitamin C easily donates electrons to free radicals, cells, including immune cells, are protected from damage caused by free radicals.
3. The role of vitamin E in the immune system
Vitamin E’s great role as an antioxidant is caused by the fact that vitamin E has a phenolic ring which is able to put its hydrogen ions on free radicals.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant strong enough to stop this chain reaction, because vitamin E is found in many cell membranes. Therefore, vitamin E can protect free radicals that inhibit cell membranes that contain unsaturated fatty acids.
4. The role of selenium in the immune system
Selenium is a trace mineral that is crucial for protein synthesis and the activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). So that it plays a catalytic role in breaking down the peroxide formed in the body into bonds that do not have toxic properties.
5. The role of zinc in the immune system
Zinc plays an important role in various bodily functions, being part of enzymes or being a cofactor in the activities of more than 300 enzymes. Zinc also plays a role in cell proliferation, particularly in mucosal cells, and plays an important role in nucleic acid synthesis. So that the position of zinc plays an important role in cell immunity function.
Writer: Dianova Alvany Aditya
Student of Nutrition Studies Program – Binawan University Jakarta
Support teacher: Apriani Riyanti, S.Pd., M.Pd.
Reference:
Ernawati, F., Center for Applied Health Technology and Clinical Epidemiology, P., Health Research and Development, B., & Public Health Intervention Technology, P. (2013). Indonesian Nutrition (Vol. 36, Number 1).
