The immune system is based on the activities of our white blood cells. One of the main white blood cell sub-groups is macrophages. Macrophages are responsible for the direct elimination of bacteria or viruses.

There is a direct relationship between the intake and digestion process of the macrophages and the activation of the immune system. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the metabolic activity of macrophages causes an increase in oxygen consumption. Oxygen is converted to superoxide which destroys these bacteria and viruses. During this oxygen demand, high amounts of NADH are consumed. Hence the more NADH that is available, the better the immune system works.

During the processing of bacteria and viruses macrophages produce ‘signal molecules’ which activate lymphocytes, which are themselves another white blood cell sub-group. These signal molecules are known as cytokines and they provide the appropriate communication between different white blood cells.

The most important of the cytokine signal molecules are Interleukines, so named because they provide the inter-communication between the various subgroups of the leucocytes. NADH stimulates the production of Interleukine IL-6, which provides an immune response to trauma, especially burns or other tissue damage leading to inflammation.