Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system fails to maintain self-tolerance, which leads it to attack the body's own cells and tissues, resulting in inflammation and injury. These diseases can be systemic and affect multiple body parts or organ specific, such as in type 1 diabetes.
What is autoimmune disease?
Our immune system keeps us healthy by fighting off invading pathogens while simultaneously sparing our own cells and tissues. In healthy people, the immune system is able to distinguish between the self and nonself, a concept called self-tolerance. When the body is functioning properly, the immune system maintains self-tolerance while working in the background to protect the body from infections.
In people with autoimmune disease, self-tolerance does not function correctly, causing the body to turn the powerful weapons of the immune system against self molecules, causing inflammation and injury. Autoimmune disease can be systemic, affecting multiple parts of the body, such as in diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They can also be organ-specific, such as in type 1 diabetes, where the immune system targets and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
How could diet affect autoimmune disease?
Preclinical studies show that dietary interventions, such as elimination diets and calorie restriction in various forms (e.g., chronic caloric restriction, time-restricted feeding (TRF), and intermittent fasting, etc.) can potentially have beneficial effects on the immune system. However, more human trials are still needed to provide a better understanding of when, and in whom, these interventions are effective. It is also important to keep in mind that the efficacy and safety of diet interventions will likely vary from person to person, with some potentially being harmful for certain people.
Metabolic status in the body is intimately connected to immune function. For example, undernourished people tend to be more susceptible to infections, while the nutrient excess associated with the Western diet may be associated with increased risk of autoimmunity.[1] This suggests that in the future, appropriate diet interventions could potentially help to reduce disease activity in people with active disease, or even lessen disease risk in those who are susceptible.
Which supplements are of most interest for autoimmune disease?
Many supplements, particularly those with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activity, have been investigated for their ability to reduce the severity or incidence of autoimmune disease. To date, some of the more promising evidence is for vitamin D and fish oil, which were linked to reduced incidence of autoimmunity in a large randomized controlled trial.[2] Further research is needed to better understand the way that supplements may affect the incidence or severity of autoimmunity in different people.
Supplement Guide
Examine Database: Autoimmune Disease
Research FeedRead all studies
Can a vitamin D supplement reduce fatigue and disease activity in lupus?
In this 6-month nonrandomized clinical trial in 60 adults with systemic lupus erythematosus and a vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, taking vitamin D improved fatigue symptoms and biomarkers of immune system activation but had no effect on disease activity.
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Dietary sodium density and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
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Supplemental vitamin D prevents lesion development in multiple sclerosis
Does long term exposure to air pollution increase the risk of developing lupus?
Probiotics for allergic disease symptoms in children
Associations between antihistamine use and pollen, green space, air pollution, and nicotine use
Do quail eggs help improve allergic rhinitis?
Dietary factors and multiple sclerosis risk
Can traditional Chinese and Korean herbal medicine improve Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Is zinc intake related to autoimmune thyroiditis risk?
Does eating more organic food reduce the risk of allergy-related conditions?
Can black seed oil improve lupus symptoms?
Does vitamin D improve allergic rhinitis?
Frequently asked questions
What is autoimmune disease?
Our immune system keeps us healthy by fighting off invading pathogens while simultaneously sparing our own cells and tissues. In healthy people, the immune system is able to distinguish between the self and nonself, a concept called self-tolerance. When the body is functioning properly, the immune system maintains self-tolerance while working in the background to protect the body from infections.
In people with autoimmune disease, self-tolerance does not function correctly, causing the body to turn the powerful weapons of the immune system against self molecules, causing inflammation and injury. Autoimmune disease can be systemic, affecting multiple parts of the body, such as in diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They can also be organ-specific, such as in type 1 diabetes, where the immune system targets and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
What is a flare?
Quick answer:
A flare is a period of active autoimmune disease characterized by the return or development of symptoms, which can be triggered by factors like injury, stress, or infection. Treatment typically involves anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs to manage symptoms and promote remission.
Symptoms of many autoimmune diseases tend to increase during the active phases of the disease, and lessen or even go away during periods of remission. The term ‘flare’ refers to periods of active disease, during which symptoms can return or new symptoms develop. Flares sometimes seem to come out of nowhere, but are also often triggered by environmental factors such as injury, stress, or infection. Anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat flares and bring about remission.
Is it true that even healthy people can have autoantibodies?
Quick answer:
Yes, individuals without known health conditions can have autoantibodies, specifically natural autoantibodies (NAA), which are produced by autoreactive B and T cells and bind to self-antigens with low to moderate affinities. Although NAA are generally beneficial and may help regulate the immune system, their exact role remains unclear.
Yes. Healthy people have autoreactive B cells and T cells that lead to the production of natural autoantibodies (NAA) that bind to self-antigens, but with only low to moderate affinities. In contrast to the harmful type of autoantibodies that cause the immune system to target self-tissues, NAA are beneficial and play a role in regulating[3] the immune system.
Although NAA were first discovered[4] back in 1963, their exact role in the body still isn’t clear. They are thought to play a role in the first line of defense to infections and may be protective[5] in people with autoimmune disease.[6]
How could diet affect autoimmune disease?
Dietary interventions, such as elimination diets and calorie restriction, may positively affect the immune system and potentially reduce disease activity in autoimmune disease, although more human trials are needed to determine their effectiveness and safety for individuals. Additionally, metabolic status is associated with immune function; undernourishment increases infection susceptibility, and excess nutrients from Western diets potentially raises autoimmunity risk.
Preclinical studies show that dietary interventions, such as elimination diets and calorie restriction in various forms (e.g., chronic caloric restriction, time-restricted feeding (TRF), and intermittent fasting, etc.) can potentially have beneficial effects on the immune system. However, more human trials are still needed to provide a better understanding of when, and in whom, these interventions are effective. It is also important to keep in mind that the efficacy and safety of diet interventions will likely vary from person to person, with some potentially being harmful for certain people.
Metabolic status in the body is intimately connected to immune function. For example, undernourished people tend to be more susceptible to infections, while the nutrient excess associated with the Western diet may be associated with increased risk of autoimmunity.[1] This suggests that in the future, appropriate diet interventions could potentially help to reduce disease activity in people with active disease, or even lessen disease risk in those who are susceptible.
Which supplements are of most interest for autoimmune disease?
Supplements with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, particularly vitamin D and fish oil, have shown promise in reducing the incidence of autoimmune disease, according to a large randomized controlled trial. However, further research is necessary to understand their effects on different individuals.
Many supplements, particularly those with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activity, have been investigated for their ability to reduce the severity or incidence of autoimmune disease. To date, some of the more promising evidence is for vitamin D and fish oil, which were linked to reduced incidence of autoimmunity in a large randomized controlled trial.[2] Further research is needed to better understand the way that supplements may affect the incidence or severity of autoimmunity in different people.