Yeast supplementation can help support the immune system, particularly during periods of immune challenge, by positively influencing the body's energy metabolism.
Yeast and Immune Support
The body's immune system requires significant energy to function effectively, especially when facing a challenge like an infection or stress. During these times, maintaining adequate energy levels is crucial for a strong immune response and overall recovery.
Based on research, yeast supplementation appears to offer a substantial benefit to an animal experiencing an immune challenge. This benefit stems from how yeast can influence the availability of energy within the body.
The Role of Energy During Immune Challenge
An active immune response is metabolically demanding. If sufficient energy is not readily available from consumed food, the body may begin to break down its own tissues, such as fat (adipose) and muscle (protein), to meet these energy demands. This process, known as catabolism, can weaken the body and potentially hinder recovery.
According to the provided reference:
"Therefore, it appears that yeast supplementation may provide a substantial benefit to an animal during an immune challenge through improving available energy via increasing glucose, thus reducing the catabolism of adipose and protein." (02-Feb-2021)
This suggests a specific mechanism:
- Yeast improves available energy: It helps make more energy readily accessible in the form of glucose.
- Increases glucose: Yeast supplementation can lead to higher levels of circulating glucose.
- Reduces catabolism: By providing more available glucose, the body relies less on breaking down its own fat and muscle tissue for energy.
Benefits During Immune Stress
This improved energy status and reduced breakdown of body reserves can be highly beneficial during an immune challenge because:
- Supports Immune Cell Function: Immune cells require energy to proliferate, migrate, and perform their protective functions.
- Preserves Body Condition: Reducing the breakdown of fat and protein helps maintain the animal's overall health and strength during and after an immune event.
- Potentially Aids Recovery: By reducing metabolic stress and preserving body mass, the animal may recover more quickly.
In essence, by enhancing energy availability and sparing vital tissues, yeast supplementation provides metabolic support that helps the body better cope with the demands placed upon it by an active immune response.
Summary of How Yeast Helps
Here's a simple breakdown of the described mechanism:
- Immune Challenge Occurs: The body activates its immune system, requiring energy.
- Yeast Supplementation: Introduced into the diet.
- Improved Energy Availability: Yeast helps increase readily available energy (glucose).
- Reduced Tissue Breakdown: More glucose means the body doesn't need to break down as much fat and protein.
- Support During Challenge: The animal has more energy and preserves body condition, aiding the immune response and recovery.
This specific mechanism highlights one way yeast supplementation can indirectly support the immune system by optimizing the body's metabolic response during stressful periods.
