We know that 70 % of your immune system is housed in your gut .
We also know that the gut bacteria constantly communicate and educate the immune cells that live in the lining of our gut. From birth, the role of the gut bacteria is to educate our immune system so that it knows what is friend and what is foe.
As you can see the composition of the gut bacteria has got a crucial role to play in influencing the response of our immune system. What you need is an immune system that reacts and triggers inflammation when necessary but also stops the process when the infection is over. Failing to do so may be a contributing factor to the development of auto-immune disorders as the inflammation gets out of control and starts to damage tissues within the body.
It is estimated that there are about 100 different auto-immune disorders, and they affect 80 % of women! Some of maybe the most common ones are Rheumatoid arthritis where joints are targeted and get inflamed, type 1 diabetes. Psoriasis
Researchers don’t know exactly what causes autoimmune diseases but the below factors have been put forward as possible contributing factors.
· Genetics
· Diet
· Infections
· Exposure to chemicals might be involved
The avenue of the gut is also been explored and more specifically the gut permeability . The intestinal barrier is the site of the body where most host–microbiota interaction takes place. Certain microbiota or their metabolites can cause a break in homeostasis by affecting the intestinal barrier integrity and permeability.
What we have also known for a while is that the gut microbiome of someone that suffers from an auto-immune disorder looks different than someone who does not. They often have Dysbiosis which is an imbalance between the beneficial and pathogenic bacteria and a lack of diversity of bacteria.
A recent study published in the European journal of immunology (April 2021) demonstrated that the integrity of the gut lining is contributing to the initiation AND the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is indeed a growing evidence that gut microbiota and its disruption is major contributor to the onset of chronic inflammation. Accumulating evidence suggests that changes in the composition of the bacteria residing in the gut could be responsible for joint inflammation.
Researchers at University College London have shown that, in arthritis, there is profound damage to the gut lining, which fails to work properly as a barrier, as well as an accumulation in the gut of white blood cells that cause inflammation.
The authors show that, in arthritis, bacteria cross the prohibited border of the intestinal lining and that repairing gut permeability defects with specific drugs inhibits joint inflammation.
Furthermore, targeting the intestinal barrier function buy dietary changes might provide an opportunity to modulate the development of RA.
I am hoping that this will lead to more studies with regards to other autoimmune disorders.
How to protect the gut barrier with diet to reduce inflammation ?
· Keep a healthy gut microbiome as the Short-chain fatty acids produced by beneficial bacteria when they ferment fibre are beneficial for our gut lining
· Eat a balanced diet with enough fibre to fed your gut bacteria. Particularly beneficial are prebiotics fiber contained in onions, leeks, asparagus, banana, garlic
Akkermensia is a type of bacteria that can keep our gut lining healthy. Akkermensia like to fed on : fish oil , polyphenols that is a compound in all in brightly colours Berries, Herbs and Spices, Cocoa Powder, Flaxseeds, Olives, Coffee and Tea
· Your gut lining is sensitive to sugar and unhealthy fats so limit the intake of those in your diet
· So can a lot of alcohol !
· Poor blood sugar control can also be damaging to tissues but can also compromise the gut barrier.
· Anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet fruits vegetables and legumes and moderate consumption of fish and low consumption of red meat
· Olive oil
· Add lots of colorful vegetables s to your plate as they contain a lot of antioxidants which are helpful to reduce the damage done by an
Check your vitamin D levels as important for regulatory T cells which switch on & off your immune system
Specifically mentioned in the study for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
· Butyrate might be a novel therapeutic approach, Butyrate is one of the Short-chain fatty acids produced by Gut bacteria when they fed on fibre. This can also be found in a supplement (please consult your GP before taking any supplements when on medication)
· Depletion of amino acids tryptophan and glutamine and zinc vitamin D that are important for gut integrity can be found in patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis·
· If overweight losing weight will help to reduce intestinal permeability
There is no doubts in my mind that if you are suffering from and auto-immune disorders, alongside medication, a diet that encourages a healthy gut microbiome can only be beneficial and help manage the symptoms of these conditions. Book a free discovery calls if you would like to work with me.
Reference :https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/eji.202048876