Autoimmunity

                             Mercury Dental Fillings and Autoimmunity

Dental fillings placed in the teeth of mice resulted in immune abnormalities associated with autoimmunity. Other metals including gold, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and silver can also promote autoimmunity. It appears that chronic exposure to the metals is required for the development of autoimmune reactions. Metals may become incorporated into tissues triggering immune attack against those tissues.

References:

Hultman, Per, et al, Adverse Immunological Effects and Autoimmunity Induced by Dental Amalgam and Alloy in Mice, FASEB Journal, 1994;8:1183-1190.

Bigazzi, Pierluigi E., Autoimmunity and Heavy Metals, Lupus, 1994;3:449-453.

Gluten and Autoimmunity

Introduction of gluten into the diet of a child in the first 3 months of life increased the risk of developing celiac disease five-fold. This is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own digestive tract. Gluten increases the permeability of the digestive tract leading to food intolerances and allergies.

References:

Norris JM, Barriga K, et al, Risk of Celiac Disease Autoimmunity and Timing of Gluten Introduction in the Diet of Infants at Increased Risk of Disease, JAMA, May 18, 2005;293(19):2343-2351. 

Nutrition and Autoimmunity

Deficiency of vitamin A increased the progression of autoimmune disease in animals that provide a model for lupus. The risk of autoimmunity against the cells that produce insulin in children appears to be inversely related to intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 deficiencies early in childhood may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes.  Dr. Jill Norris, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, believes that the vitamin supplementation for infants helps prevent beta-cell autoimmunity leading to Type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D deficiency is a key factor involved in the development of autoimmunity. The protein in milk can mimic the vitamin D receptor, thus allergy to milk can contribute to difficulty in utilizing vitamin D.

References:

Gershwin ME, Lentz DR, et al, Nutritional Factors and Autoimmunity: IV. Dietary Vitamin A Deprivation Induces a Selective Increase in IgM Autoantibodies and Hypergammaglobulinemia in New Zealand Black Mice, J Immunol, July, 1984;133(1):222-226.

Norris JM, Yin X, et al, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and islet autoimmunity in children at increased risk for type 1 diabetes, JAMA, 2007; 298(12): 1420-8.

Baker, Barbara,Infant Vitamins May Protect Against Diabetes, Family Practice News, July 15, 1996;4.

Embry AF, Vitamin D Supplementation in the Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis, J Orthomol Med, 2004;19(1):27-38.