Editorial: Immunonutrition: bridging precision nutrition and modern medicine.

Abstract

Inflammation imposes substantial metabolic demands and depletes critical nutrient reserves, often impairing immune function. While adequate nutrition is foundational to immune homeostasis, the targeted use of supraphysiological doses of immunomodulatory nutrients to redirect immune responses toward tolerance or resolution of inflammation remains an evolving frontier. Immunonutrition, a key domain within precision nutrition, encompasses bioactive compounds—nutrients and non-nutrients—such as amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, glucans, and an expanding repertoire of pre-, pro-, sym-, and post-biotics. Its clinical applications span early-life immune development, cancer and infection management, modulation of autoimmunity and allergies, and attenuation of immunosenescence and inflamm-aging in chronic diseases. Despite the advances propelled by multi-omics research, critical gaps remain in mechanistic understanding, immune–nutrient interactions, synergy of bioactives within the food, biomarker identification, and the safety profile of immunonutrients, including nutrient–drug interactions.