There is a growing body of research that has linked autoimmune issues to the health of the gut microbiome. Because 80 percent of your immune system is within the gut lining, any imbalances you have in your microbiome can contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease, Dr. Safdieh says. A January 2017 review in BMC Immunology demonstrates the effects of dysbiosis and its relationships with autoimmune disorders, like inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Pro-inflammatory microbes in the gut can result in immunosuppression and also lead to a disease beyond the gut, such as the heart, liver and nervous system.
Environmental factors, such as the overuse of antibiotics, can also affect the bacteria in the gut and increase the risk of autoimmune disease, suggests a review in Gut Microbes . “Overuse of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals has caused a drastic reduction in the diversity of our collective microbiome,” Dr. Safdieh says. Having a leaky gut , in which there is inflammation and weakening of the gut barrier, is also associated with exposure to certain chemicals and drugs connected to autoimmunity.
Studies have even shown that pre- and post-natal factors can shape the development of your microbiome, which impacts your risks of developing an autoimmune disease. “Our microbiomes start forming as early as birth during delivery,” Dr. Safdieh says. “Babies are exposed to maternal flora as they come through the vaginal canal. Infant feeding methods and breastfeeding earlier in life also play a role in the infant’s microbiome development,” she says. For example, Dr. Safdieh says that at Parsley, pregnant women and mothers who have Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) , a rare autoimmune disease, are treated without antibiotics to keep their guts robust, and in turn, helps keep their babies healthy.
For example, a July 2016 review article in Nature Medicine points out that one of the first major exposures to microbes in newborns is during the birthing process. During vaginal births, a mother’s vaginal microbiota is transferred to the child, enriching them with good bacteria like Lactobacillus spp. However, babies born via C-section don’t receive this benefit and are colonized by common skin and environmental microbes, like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. This puts infants born via C-section at higher risk for developing dysbiosis. Infants born via C-section have also been shown to have greater rates of asthma, allergies , obesity, and autoimmune disorders than those born vaginally, a February 2016 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows.
Breastfeeding and maternal health play a role in risk of autoimmune disease too. A May 2018 review article in Frontiers in Medicine points out that the mother’s health circumstances for infants delivered via C-section could have an impact on their gut health and autoimmunity risks. Mothers who are delivering via C-sections are sometimes administered antibiotics, which can affect an infant’s microbiome. C-section deliveries are also associated with poor breastfeeding behavior. Breast milk contains a variety of important nutrients that influence an infant’s gut microbiome. “Many babies, unfortunately, aren’t fed right away because of NICU stays and surgeries,” Dr. Safdieh says. In addition, maternal obesity is a risk factor for C-section delivery, so there’s a chance that it can alter the infant’s gut microbiome pre- and post-natal.
Tiffany Ayuda is a New York City-based editor and writer passionate about fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She has held previous editorial roles at Prevention, Eat This, Not That, Daily Burn, and Everyday Health. Tiffany is also a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. When she's not writing or breaking up a sweat, Tiffany enjoys cooking up healthy meals in her Brooklyn kitchen.
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