Middle Eastern Diets as a Potential Source of Immunomodulators

Abstract

The immune system is a highly developed and complex system. Its optimal functioning is critical to human health, being responsible for safeguarding the human body toward the invading of various pathogens or cancers, and therefore plays a remarkable role in maintaining health. Immunomodulators are agents that change the immunologic function of human, and they include stimulatory and suppressive agents. Diet is one of the main factors that modulate different aspects of the immune functions. The consumption of diets with immunomodulating capacities is known as an efficient tool for preventing the come down of the immune functions and decreasing the risks of infections or cancers, as well as boosting the physiological functions. Recently, an interest has been shifted to the Middle Eastern diet (MED) recognized as one of the healthiest diets, with substantiation of healing and preventing diverse human disorders and increasing longevity. This was attributed to the fact that MED is a wealthy pool of antioxidants, minerals, dietary fibers, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. In this chapter, state-of--the-art knowledge about the effectiveness of the MED on the immune function is reviewed. It is noteworthy that many evidences encourage the consumption of MED aimed at long-term healthy life with improved quality. More future attention should be paid to the consumption of MED with immunomodulatory potential to prohibit the declining of the immune functions and minimize the risk of various disorders such as infections, autoimmune diseases, allergies, or cancer. Moreover, further clinical and mechanistic studies are required to establish the role of MED as immunomodulators.