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.
