ABSTRACT
Much has been written about the adverse effect of protein deprivation on host defense mechanisms, but information is lacking concerning the effect of the type of protein in nutritionally balanced diets on the immune system and host resistance to infection. This chapter assesses the influence on the humoral immune response of most of the commercially available plant and animal proteins, and explores the mechanism underlying the observed effect of dietary-protein type on the immune system. It identifies the changes induced by dietary-protein type which might directly or indirectly affect the humoral immune responsiveness. The only significant effect of protein type was found to be a change in plasma amino acid profile which essentially conformed to the amino acid composition of the ingested protein. Casein is the type of protein most commonly used in laboratory and clinical settings.
