Vitamin E and Enhancement of the Immune Response in the Aged

Aging is associated with dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses, which is believed to contribute to the higher morbidity and mortality from infection, neoplastic, and inflammatory diseases as well as pathologic processes associated with certain diseases in the aged. Studies indicate that a multitude of defects involving different immune cells are responsible for the dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses observed with aging (1,2) (Fig. 16.1).