TY - JOUR T1 - A multifactorial approach to improving immunity JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 558 LP - 559 DO - 10.3399/bjgp21X717893 VL - 71 IS - 713 AU - Regina Ford Y1 - 2021/12/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/71/713/558.abstract N2 - To stay alive and well, especially in these current testing times, a well-functioning immune system is key. The immune system uses two main response pathways: the cellular immune response and the humoral extracellular (antibody-related) immune response, which are intricately linked. Many different cells (B and T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages) and cell subtypes, cytokines, hormones, and cell surface antigens are involved in the process, which make the immune system one of the most complex systems in our body. In a system as complex and interlinked as this, you can understand how things can go wrong if only one small part of the system is failing.We all know people who hardly ever get ill no matter what they get exposed to and others pick up every cold that goes round. What is the difference between these two groups of people? Is it just genetic or could it also be lifestyle? There are a lot of clinical studies out there showing how lifestyle can improve the function of the immune system but also how certain behaviours can impair it. There is also recent evidence about chronic systemic inflammation harming the overall health and impairing the function of the immune system.Scientific studies mostly investigate a single variable factor and assess the outcome once this one factor has been changed. This approach is well established and allows researchers to evaluate the impact of the changes made. In reality, the complex physiology of the human body is impacted by countless influences from the environment and from the lifestyle choices made, voluntarily or involuntarily, every single day. Therefore, when attempting to improve the health and immunity of the general population, a multifactorial approach should be chosen. To address a small number of factors only and exclude others is unlikely to provide the … ER -