Gut Bacteria Drive Autoimmunity

Russell Skinner, MD

​While autoimmune diseases have many unanswered questions, there is increasing evidence that gut bacteria is a driving factor in autoimmunity. A research group from Yale performed a study that has given us more evidence that gut health can lead to autoimmune diseases.

The Link Between Gut Bacteria and Autoimmune Disorders

The researchers discovered that when Enterococcus gallinarum was moved from one part of the gut to the liver or other tissues within mice, it triggered autoimmune responses.

In the study, they chose mice that were genetically susceptible to autoimmunity and found that as the E. gallinarum moved to other parts of the body, it causes inflammation. Also, they found that their bodies produced auto-antibodies. Both of these responses are signs of an autoimmune disorder.

They moved from testing mice to performing these same tests on cultures taken from human liver. These tests resulted in the same findings- gut bacteria played a key role in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Poor Gut Health Causes Abnormal Responses From Your Body
Dysbiosis (microbial imbalance inside the body) can harm the body because there is an intricate host-microbe symbiotic relationship with your body. When the bacteria in your gut gets out of balance, it causes abnormal interactions in the body.

This isn’t the first study that’s shown that gut bacteria has affected disorders or diseases. One such study determined that dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction in histamine intolerant patients played an important role in driving disease pathogenesis.

Balancing Bacteria is The Key to Maintaining Optimal Health
While researchers haven’t broken the code on autoimmune diseases and disorders like histamine intolerance, we know that restoring your gut flora is key to healing in your body. Restoring your gut flora through the right diet.

Healthy gut flora will aid in digestion and destroy harmful bacteria in your system. However, when the good bacteria is out of balance, it can cause your body to attack itself.

Ways to Restore Your Gut Flora
Here are a few things you should eat as a regular part of your diet to keep your gut health in check:

• Eat a wide variety of healthy foods to increase the diversity of your gut flora.
• Include prebiotic (such as chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, dandelion greens, garlic, onion, leek, and asparagus) and probiotic foods (such as yogurt, kefir, fermented fruits and vegetables) in your diet.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
• Increase your physical activity.
• Stop smoking.
• Get enough sleep each night.
• Reduce your stress levels.

There are normally underlying causes of diseases and disorders in the body. Instead of treating the symptoms you are experiencing, you must address the root problem. Restoring the imbalance of bacteria in the gut is important to healing in your body.