Books:
Study title and authors:
Immune system differences in men with hypo- or hypercholesterolemia.
Muldoon MF, Marsland A, Flory JD, Rabin BS, Whiteside TL, Manuck SB.
Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9245545
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell in the blood. White blood cells help to protect the body against diseases and infections.
T cells are a type of white blood that directs the body's immune system to defend against bacteria and other harmful cells.
CD8+ cells are T cells that can kill cells that are infected with viruses, other pathogens, or are otherwise damaged or dysfunctional.
CD4+ cells are T cells that release cytokines (cytokines are
substances that communicate to the immune system that there are "foreign
harmful invaders").
Interleukin-2 is a cytokine that responds to the poison phytohemagglutinin.
Phytohemagglutinin is found in large quantities in red kidney beans and in
lesser amounts in white kidney beans, fava beans and other leguminous beans.
The study examined the immune systems in men with low cholesterol and in men with high cholesterol to find what may explain these associations.
The study found:
(a) Men with low cholesterol levels, below 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), had significantly fewer lymhocytes than men with high cholesterol levels, above 261 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L).
(b) Men with low cholesterol levels, below 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), had fewer T cells than men with high cholesterol levels, above 261 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L).
(c) Men with low cholesterol levels, below 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), had fewer CD8+ cells than men with high cholesterol levels, above 261 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L).
(d) Men with low cholesterol levels, below 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), had fewer CD4+ cells than men with high cholesterol levels, above 261 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L).
(e) Men with low cholesterol levels, below 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), had less interleukin-2 release in response to phytohemagglutinin than men with high cholesterol levels, above 261 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L).
The data from this study shows that men with high cholesterol levels have a stronger immune system than men with low cholesterol levels. This may help to explain why people with high cholesterol live longer than people with low cholesterol.
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Recipe of the day
Roast Chicken
Ingredients:
1 roasting chicken, about 4 pounds Food Mall: Chicken
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced (or cut up into chunks)3 Tablespoons melted butter or ghee or bacon grease
sea salt and pepper
several sprigs of fresh thyme, oregano or tarragon
1/2 cup dry white wine or vermouth (or 1 T wine vinegar)
4 cups chicken broth
1 Tablespoon gelatin
Preparation:
Strew onion slices in stainless steel roasting pan. Cut optional heads of garlic in half and place, cut side down, in pan. Stuff fresh herbs into the cavity of the chicken and place on a rack in the roasting pan, underside up. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. To turn chicken, insert a wooden spoon into the cavity. Lift chicken and rotate so that top side is up. Brush with more butter, season with salt and pepper and return to oven. Bake another hour. Remove chicken to a carving board and cut into individual pieces. Reserve chicken pieces and garlic in a warm oven while making sauce.
Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the heads and serve separately for spreading onto whole grain bread.
Remove rack from the baking pan. You may pour off the fat if you wish, but it is not necessary. Pour in wine and bring to a boil, stirring to loosen onion slices. Add stock and optional gelatin and reduce ot about half by vigorous boiling. Strain sauce into a small saucepan and keep warm over a low flame.
