Autoimmune-Gut Connection
- Dr. Alicia Miller, ND
- Jul 12, 2021
- 2 min read
Most of my patients that I treat have a variety of Autoimmune conditions. Most seem surprised when I start with the gut. What does the digestive system have to do with an overactive immune system? First, a general definition of Autoimmune disease is where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. There are many theories and risk factors that cause the immune system to overreact.
Sex hormones may play a role. Over 75% of autoimmune conditions occur in women in childbearing age. It’s interesting to note that many autoimmune conditions get better during pregnancy and post-menopausal. However, in men with low Testosterone are more susceptible to developing autoimmune disease. More studies are needed to see the relationship between abnormal levels of hormones and autoimmunity.
Genetics and familial predisposition factor in the development of autoimmunity. Certain ethnicities have a higher incidence of some autoimmune conditions. If there is a family history of any autoimmunity, there is a higher likelihood that their offspring may develop an autoimmune condition, but it could be a different one.
Environment and Lifestyle play a huge role in the development of autoimmune disease. Some examples are smoking cigarettes, air pollution, pesticide exposure, chronic stress, occupation, junky Western-diet, and some medications. Another way is exposure to viruses, bacteria (including Lyme’s disease), and yeast can cause the immune system to overreact, known as molecular mimicry. This can trigger an autoimmune condition without having the genetics for it.
All these insults to the immune system effect the gut microbiome which will affect the integrity of the gut lining. There are protective barriers that produce antibodies to fight off antigens, but those can get damaged over time which will activate immune and neurological reactions. On the other side of the gut lining are Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) which is the pathway to your immune system. Naturopathic Doctors have known that most chronic ailments start with the gut. Whether it is chronic stress that creates inflammation and disrupts the microbiome or if you took an antibiotic that kills off the bad and good bacteria, there’s hope to restore the gut and balance the immune system. There are no cures for autoimmune conditions, but there are ways to modulate the immune system. If you are experiencing any gut issues, don’t let it persist. It’s your body’s way of telling you to pay attention to your body. Functional Medicine Doctors will identify your individual root causes and get your gut-immune health back on track.
Comments