Research
Hormonal
Leptin plays a critical role in linking nutritional status to immune function, specifically by stimulating T-cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine production.
Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells, helps regulate your immune system. In obesity, this system can become dysregulated. Understanding this link highlights why metabolic health is crucial for immune resilience, though current research does not support leptin supplementation as a standard immune booster for obese individuals.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Leptin might play a key role in linking nutritional status with T-cell function.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies on leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob) and human cell assays, showing clear hormonal-immune interactions.
Source
Obesity and immune function relationships
Amelia Martí et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2001
DOI 10.1046/j.1467-789x.2001.00025.x
narrative_reviewCited 422×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Obesity is associated with impaired immune function, including higher incidence and severity of infectious illnesses and poor antibody responses to vaccines.Good
- Moderate energy restriction and weight loss can reverse some immune impairments associated with obesity, such as reduced lymphocyte proliferation and NK cell activity.Moderate
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