The human body’s immune system is an incredible, complex defense that not only detects disease-causing agents in the body but also mounts an immune response to attack the pathogen and protect the person from disease. Unfortunately, one’s immune system may, at times, overreact to specific pathogens, continue attacking after the pathogen is no longer present, or erroneously label a benign cell as dangerous and even attack one’s own healthy cells resulting in an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis.
Autoimmune disorders affect approximately 50 million Americans. These diseases are debilitating and cost an estimated $100 billion in medical expenses annually. Medical research has found that autoimmune disorders are due to multiple factors, including genetics, environment, toxins, and poor gut health, called leaky gut.
What is leaky gut?
Approximately 70% of the body’s immune system is in the gut. Our gut contains trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome. Within our gut microbiome, it is essential to have a balance of diverse, beneficial bacteria in comparison to different types of harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can negatively impact digestion, nutrition absorption, and immune regulation.
The following comprehensive clinical review article concluded that “Disturbances in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota are strongly associated with autoimmune disorders.” When a person has an imbalance of gut microbiome, there is a deficiency of beneficial bacteria that help protect the integrity of the gut lining. This impaired barrier can cause the gut to become “leaky,” allowing undigested food particles, toxins, and pathogens to leak into the body. The immune system then targets and attacks these substances, which, over time, causes significant, chronic inflammation. In genetically predisposed individuals, the immune system may begin to mistakenly attack their own healthy cells, leading to the development of an autoimmune disorder.
However, the gut microbiome is constantly changing depending on the individual’s diet and environment. Exciting research has shown that with the proper diet, nutritional support, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic foods, probiotics, and stress management, an individual can manage and possibly even prevent autoimmune disorders by treating leaky gut.
Autoimmune disorders and symptoms of chronic inflammation should be evaluated by a healthcare professional with guidance and oversight of leaky gut treatment to optimize the patient’s plan of care and clinical outcome.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11099291/
Wang X, Yuan W, Yang C, Wang Z, Zhang J, Xu D, Sun X, Sun W. Emerging role of gut microbiota in autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol. 2024 May 3;15:1365554. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1365554. PMID: 38765017; PMCID: PMC11099291.
