Disclosed are methods of treating an individual having a conditioncharacterized by an imbalance in type (1) and type (2) cytokine production,wherein the method comprises administering to the individual an amount of&bgr； -hydroxy- &bgr； -me thylbutyrate (HMB) effective to modulate orotherwise cause an increase in the ratio of type (1) to type (2) cytokines,including an increase in the ratio of type (1) to type (2) cytokines without acorresponding increase in type (2) cytokine levels. Also disclosed are methodsof using HMB to treat asthma, allergies and cancer. The methods of the presentinvention are based upon the discovery that HMB modulates cytokine production,most typically by increasing type (1) cytokines without a correspondingincrease in type (2) cytokines.
