Britesquare promotes health by addressing the underlying mechanisms of the autoimmune process. Our comprehensive four-part framework explores the many factors that affect autoimmunity including an inflammatory diet, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, leaky gut & gut dysbiosis, hormone imbalances, environmental toxins, chronic infections, stress and sleep deprivation.
Our evidence-based approach to autoimmunity.
Some of the science behind our approach to autoimmunity:
Diet & Nutrients
New research suggests that a nutrient-dense diet free of inflammatory foods is one of the most powerful treatments for autoimmune disease, dramatically impacting overall health. Please find below a few links to published peer-reviewed science:
1. The Standard American Diet of inflammatory and processed foods promotes autoimmune disease by impairing metabolic and immunologic mechanisms (1).
2. Food sensitivities can have a huge impact on inflammation in autoimmunity. Research indicates that a gluten-free diet can halt the celiac disease process and alleviate symptoms of non-celiac autoimmune diseases (2).
3. Gluten triggers not only Celiac disease but can also provoke non-celiac autoimmune disorders, including Hashimoto’s and Sjögren’s, by activating inflammatory pathways, altering the composition of the gut microbiota, and increasing intestinal permeability (3)
4. Diet can be so powerful that one pilot study showed how the AIP diet can improve inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms. After a six-week AIP diet, 73% of study participants achieved, and remained in, clinical remission. This outcome rivals most drug therapies for IBD (4).
5. Another advantage of a nutrient-dense diet is that it ensures an optimal intake of nutrients required by the immune system. For example, vitamin D helps to maintain the intestinal barrier to protect against leaky gut, a precondition for autoimmunity (5).
Gut Microbiome & Leaky Gut
Mounting evidence indicates that gut health significantly influences autoimmune disease risk through multiple mechanisms, so healing the gut is a crucial part of any autoimmune program. Please find below a few links to published peer-reviewed science:
1. Microbial infections often precede the onset of autoimmunity. Bacterial infection in the gut induces cell death of intestinal epithelial cells, which ultimately allows for the production of self-reactive T cells (6).
2. The microbiome contributes to balancing the immune system, and can influence and determine the function of cells of the immune system. Gut health can play a role in non-intestinal autoimmune diseases (7).
3. Microbial enzymes modify proteins. Intestinal dysbiosis impacts the types of microbial enzymes present in the gut. Changes in these enzymes modify host proteins and may initiate an autoimmune response (8).
4. Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) allows undesirable bacteria to travel, initiating a danger signal that triggers the autoimmune disease process (9, 10).
5. While the release of zonulin (which regulates intestinal barrier function) can be prompted by many factors, two of the most powerful are gut dysbiosis and gliadin (the protein found in wheat) (11).
6. Dr. Alessio Fasano’s work, among others, demonstrates that leaky gut is a precondition for many autoimmune diseases (12).
Environmental & Dietary Toxicities
Environmental toxins are significant risk factors for developing autoimmunity since they impair the immune system, disrupt detoxification, promote inflammation and damage gut bacteria. Please find below a few links to published peer-reviewed science:
1. Mercury, a heavy metal present in certain types of seafood and dental amalgam fillings, initiates autoimmunity by altering the expression of immune system genes (13).
2. Lead is another heavy metal that contributes to the initiation and progression of autoimmune disease (14) since it can dysregulate the HPA axis, disturbs cell membranes, enzyme function and creates oxidative stress (15).
3. Arsenic, another heavy metal, dysregulates the immune system via lymphocytes and Treg cells that keep the immune system balanced. Arsenic also triggers oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and the production of inflammatory cytokines, which all contribute to autoimmunity (16).
4. Cadmium levels, resulting from typical dietary intake, is associated with the production of autoimmune antibodies (17). The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which cadmium disrupts the immune system have been elucidated (18).
5. BPA, the notorious plasticizer, provokes autoimmunity by altering estrogen signaling, disrupting detoxification, increasing circulating lipopolysaccharides, and activating macrophages (19).
Mindset & Lifestyle
The connection between stress, sleep deprivation, circadian disruption and immune function are established risk factors for autoimmune disease. Please find below a few links to published peer-reviewed science:
1. Psychological stress is an established risk factor for autoimmunity. Stress alters the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and gut functioning, which can trigger the activation of autoimmune diseases (20).
2. Stress may trigger autoimmunity by altering the gut microbiota and by dysregulating the HPA axis, the body’s primary stress-response system that also influences immune function (21).
3. Sleep Deprivation increases the risk of autoimmunity. Chronic insomnia and sleep apnea are both associated with significantly increased risks of autoimmune disease (22).
4. Insufficient sleep impacts two major mechanisms that drive autoimmunity -oxidative stress and inflammation (23).
5. Circadian disruption may contribute to autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis (24).
6. Disrupted circadian rhythm may contribute to immune dysfunction. For example, research has shown that shift work, a significant circadian disruptor, is associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis (25, 26).
7. Stress Hormones, in excess chronically, can also increase the risk of autoimmune conditions (27).