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Centennial Review: Effects of Vitamins A, D, E, and C on the Chicken Immune System

Overview
Journal Poult Sci
Publisher Elsevier
Date 2021 Feb 19
PMID 33607314
Citations 16
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Abstract

Vitamins are nutritional elements which are necessary for essential activities such as development, growth, and metabolism of cells. In addition to these conventional functions, vitamins A, D, E, and C have vital roles in normal function of the immune system as their deficiency is known to impair innate and adaptive host responses. By altering transcription of multiple immune system genes and contributing to antioxidant activities, these vitamins influence the immune system in different ways including modulation of cell-mediated and antibody-mediated responses, immunoregulation, and antiinflammatory effects. Furthermore, supplementation of these vitamins to poultry may assist the immune system to combat microbial pathogens while reducing detrimental effects associated with stress and enhancing responses to vaccines. In this article, the relationship between the chicken immune system and vitamins A, D, E, and C is reviewed, and evidence from the literature pertaining to how these vitamins exert their antiinflammatory, regulatory, and antimicrobial effects is discussed.

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