Health News resources and information

Total T-Cells

T-cells are powerful immune soldiers. They are the natural killer T-cells which tackle the antigens, the helper T-cells, which spur the immune system to battle, and the suppressor T-cells that tell the others when the fight is over. T-cells are effective in fighting viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and cancer.

You want to have the proper number of T-cells available at all times. Studies have shown that T-cells are reduced when immune function is diminished, and also in those people suffering from a nutritional deficiency.

Results: Approximately 75 percent of your total lymphocytes should be T-cells, with B-cells accounting for the remaining 25 percent.

Immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are the antibodies that travel through your body in search of antigens. When B-cells are alerted to the presence of antigens, they produce plasma cells, which, in turn, churn out antibodies specifically programmed to destroy the antigens.

There are five main immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. I often look at the levels of three immunoglobulins in the blood, IgG, IgA and IgM, which are sufficiently indicative measurements. (An easy way to remember this is to think of GAM.) Results: For adults,

IgA 76-390 mg/dl

IgG 600-1600 mg/dl

IgM 40-345 mg/dl

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Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

My own studies, and the work of others, have shown that vitamin B5 is positively related to the health of the immune system. Persons deficient in B5, for example, suffer from poor wound healing. One of B5′s jobs is to facilitate the release of antibodies from the plasma cells. Antibodies, as you remember, are like guided missiles that travel through your body to destroy disease-causing antigens. Lack of adequate B5 decreases thymolymphatico tissue, decreases the number of immunoglobulins in the blood, and upsets the T- to B-cell ratio.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

One of vitamin B2′s jobs is to help keep the mucosal lining of your body in shape to ward off invaders. The mucosal lining is among our first barriers against disease, so it’s important to keep it strong. Deficiencies of B2 are associated with several immune-system weaknesses, such as deficits in antibody production, decreases in the numbers of T- and B-cells in the blood and shrinkage of thymolymphatico tissue.

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HERPES SIMPLEX (cold sores, fever blisters): Type 1 is usually found on the lips and skin. Type 2 is easily transmitted by sexual contact and usually occurs on the genital organs.

Signs and Symptoms: generally begins with the area to be involved looking OK, but there may be tingling, discomfort or a slight ache. Severe pain often occurs. Then a blister or blisters can form. Blisters generally last about a week, break, then crust over. By the third week all signs are completely gone. Herpes can be associated with fever or malaise.

HERPES ZOSTER (shingles): can occur at any age, most commonly after 50; is not easily communicable.

Signs and Symptoms: fever; weakness; malaise; chills; loss of appetite; nausea. Severe, unremitting pain, resistant to almost all treatment, may occur, following a nerve route. About the fifth day blisters occur following the same nerve route as the pain did, most commonly on the trunk.

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Complements are plasma proteins that circulate in the blood. Many complements, such as CI, C2, C3 and so on, make up the complement system. When not engaged in battle, they drift in an inactive state. When activated, the tough little complements line up and go for the kill.

Individually, the various complements can’t harm antigens. It takes all of them, assembled at the right time, in the right place, to act. And assemble they do, at just the proper time and place.

Imagine the complements zeroing in on bacteria. Picture the first little complement attaching itself to the bacteria. The next complement attaches to the first, then another and another. When they’re all in place, the bacteria ruptures and dies, its cell wall eaten away By enzymes secreted by the complements.

Complements can also neutralize antigens by attacking their molecular structure; by changing the surfaces of antigens and making them stick together; and by prompting inflammation that will, among other things, block off the antigens so that they can’t spread to other parts of the body. The complements can also send out a chemical call for help that brings more neutrophils and macrophages to the scene. At the same time, the complements change the surface features of the antigen in such a way as to make them more “appetizing” to the cell-eaters.

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