What is Immunity?
Amino acids are involved in giving immunity by maintaining the vulnerable surfaces of the body in such a way so as to resist infections. Most of the external agents that cause damage to the human system enter through either the a) lung or b) gastrointestinal tract. Both these organs are protected by the mucus membrane, which offers resistance against the invasion of microorganisms and has the ability to stop the growth of microorganisms. The amino acid which is of importance and found in the mucous membrane is threonine. The mucus protein synthesis is reduced in Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEW. It is estimated that about 60% of the adult requirements for threonine is involved in maintaining the mucus protein synthesis to optimum. If threonine is deficient in diet, then the mucus membrane has a compromised immune system, where sufficient immunity is not provided against the invasion of foreign organisms by the mucus membrane.