Trace Minerals and Vitamins in Preventative Nutrition

摘要

The interactions between micronutrients (trace minerals and vitamins), immunology, and disease resistance are extremely complex. From the more basic molecular immune research it is clear that micronutrients play an important role in the immune response. Despite the apparent involvement of certain micronutrients in the immune system, deficiencies of micronutrients have not always increased the susceptibility of domestic animals to natural or experimentally-induced infections (Spears, 2000). There are many factors that could affect an animal's response to micronutrient supplementation such as the duration and concentration of micronutrient supplementation, the absence or presence of dietary antagonists, environmental factors, and breed differences in micronutrient metabolism. Future research is warranted to determine the effects of micronutrient supplementation on immune response and disease resistance in domesticated livestock species.