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Scientific research provides further evidence that our he alth depends on the condition of the intestines. The gut is the mainstay of the immune system. The mucosa lining them is a barrier to toxins, but also a training ground where lymphocytes learn to recognize molecules that pose a threat to the body.
Our body contacts the outside world through the skin and mucous membranes. The largest mucosa is the lining of the intestine (its surface area can be up to 250 m22 ).
Almost 80% of immune bodies are formed in the intestines, and a dense network of nerve cells transmits signals about any threat to the headquarters, i.e. the brain.
Thanks to this, it effectively performs its functions: it absorbs nutrients and is a barrier to harmful substances and microorganisms. We talk to Dr. Maciej Hałasa, MD, an immunologist from the Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition of the Pomeranian Medical University.
- What do the intestines have to do with he alth?
Maciej Hałasa, MD, PhD : Immunologists have known for a long time that the intestines contain the largest quantitative mass of lymphoid tissue, which is the basis of the immune system. But it was thought to be related to the fact that a large proportion of potentially dangerous substances pass through the intestines, including toxic, inflammatory and pathogenic agents. It has therefore been concluded that the primary function of the lymphoid tissue is to protect the intestines against these factors. But over the last dozen or so years this view has changed dramatically. Thanks to several scientific discoveries, we understood that the lymphoid tissue of the intestine, called GALT, is responsible not only for the local protection of the intestines, but also for the creation of the ability to specifically recognize and defend against various factors that can damage, attack, i.e. be dangerous (toxic and infectious) for all tissues in the body. This protection primarily applies to the respiratory system, genitourinary system and skin, i.e. those places that may be in contact with the outside world. To sum up, the learning of acquired immunity, i.e. the one that our body has to learn, takes place to a large extent in the intestine.
- What is acquired immunity? Why in thisthe intestines are so important to the process?
M.H .: Contact of our organism with the outside world through the skin is very limited. It only happens when we damage the skin, injuring it or maceration of the epidermis. Then something can enter the body that can harm it. The same applies to the respiratory system, which has to deal with air pollutants on a daily basis. But the lower respiratory tract is already free of these pollutants, because mucus is the barrier for them. They stick to it and are excreted over time. The intestines, on the other hand, are the place in our body that is in constant contact with a huge mass of potentially harmful substances. They come from the food we eat, as well as the mucus from the respiratory tract, which we often swallow even unconsciously. All this one way or another ends up in the digestive tract and has to pass through the intestines. Then, potentially harmful factors contained in the food content come into contact with defense cells - mainly lymphocytes, which learn to respond to them properly, which allows them to be quickly removed in the future, so as not to give them a chance of a harmful effect on the body. This, in short, is how building the organism's specific immunity in the intestines looks like.
M.H .: Theoretically it should be like that, but we have one problem with specific immunity. This type of immunity is extremely efficient because it can neutralize dangerous factors before they reach the body's tissues where they could cause disease. So if a specific immune system imperceptibly catches everything that can harm us, e.g. cause inflammation, despite the fact that there are people around us who sneeze and cough, we do not catch infection. Unfortunately, we very often forget, or we simply don't know, that it is because of prior exposure to such threats and that it is necessary for the immune system to learn to deal with them. As a result, because all this happens imperceptibly for us, we forget every day that in order to stay he althy, we should constantly immunize ourselves, that is, provide the body with various substances along with the diet that allow us to constantly build this immunization.
M.H .: I would say rather on a he althy diet, i.e. a diet that is not devoid of nutrients, but consists of low-processed, natural products. There is a saying - smart people live in dirt.Of course, I am not an opponent of hygiene, but excessive cleansing of the skin, as well as attempts to eat almost sterile meals or excessive oral hygiene (even excessive mouth rinsing with disinfectants) deprive the body of contact with substances that help build immunity.
M.H .: Cells of the stratum corneum produce keratin protein plaques that are impermeable to water. This hydrophobic barrier prevents water from escaping and evaporating from our body. At the same time, it creates a barrier that pathogens cannot overcome and many potentially toxic substances. Of course, this only happens if the skin is not damaged, puffed up. The mucous membranes, including those in the gut, work in slightly different ways. They protect us against the penetration of harmful substances and pathogenic microorganisms, because they are covered with mucus and have a dense structure of epithelia.
M.H .: Yes. Toxic substances cannot enter the body if the intestines have a he althy epithelium. Unfortunately, it is sometimes weakened. We know of several substances that we know can cause such damage to the gut, which leads to a phenomenon called leaky gut syndrome. This concept is not yet fully taken seriously in modern medicine, but there is a growing body of evidence in the form of serious scientific research that supports the use of the term "leaky gut syndrome". One substance that can lead to leakage in the gut is gluten, the presence of which in some people's food causes damage to the connections between the cells that make up the gut lining.
M.H .: It regpuje zonpina, a naturally occurring substance in our body, and recently discovered by prof. Alessio Fasano, an American doctor of Italian origin specializing in the treatment of celiac disease. Zonpine is identical to the toxin produced by the bacteria that causes cholera, a once common disease that manifests itself in massive diarrhea. Under physiological conditions, we need zonpin when something harmful is found in the intestine and we need to get rid of it from the body. Then the connections between epithelial cells are loosened, and as a result, a lot of water is released from the sub-epithelial tissue space, whichrinses the inside of the intestine. It feels like diarrhea. But another, undesirable effect of zonpine is the unsealing of the intestinal mucosa and creating conditions for the penetration of undesirable substances. These are larger and more complex molecules that can be toxic or allergenic. These substances can be carried through the bloodstream to the liver and cause its failure. And because the liver is responsible for many physiological processes taking place in our body, its damage or overload with substances that have improperly penetrated from the intestines may cause diseases of the liver itself or, consequently, also of other organs.
Worth knowingEfficient epithelium is essential
Products from the outside world that enter the intestines are pre-processed, e.g. in the stomach, where most pathogenic microorganisms die. The tight adhesion of the cells that make up the intestine, as well as the tight structure of our skin, ensures that no substances can enter the body in an uncontrolled way. Efficient epithelium allows only what should pass into the blood and go to various tissues of the body, i.e. mainly amino acids, simple sugars and fatty acids. These essential nutrients are safe for our body. Safe because they do not have toxic or allergenic properties and therefore can be massively absorbed and absorbed, and finally become a source of energy or a building material for cells.
M.H .: Theoretically it should be like that, but we have one problem with specific immunity. This type of immunity is extremely efficient because it can neutralize dangerous factors before they reach the body's tissues where they could cause disease. So if a specific immune system imperceptibly catches everything that can harm us, e.g. cause inflammation, despite the fact that there are people around us who sneeze and cough, we do not catch infection. Unfortunately, we very often forget, or we simply don't know, that it is because of prior exposure to such threats and that it is necessary for the immune system to learn to deal with them. As a result, because all this happens imperceptibly for us, we forget every day that in order to stay he althy, we should constantly immunize ourselves, that is, provide the body with various substances along with the diet that allow us to constantly build this immunization.
M.H .: I would say rather on a he althy diet, i.e. a diet that is not devoid of nutrients, but consists of low-processed, natural products. There is a saying - smart people live in dirt. Of course, I am not an opponent of hygiene, but excessive cleansing of the skin, as well as attempts to eat almost sterile meals or excessive oral hygiene (even excessive mouth rinsing with disinfectants) deprive the body of contact with substances that help build immunity.
M.H .: Cells of the stratum corneum produce keratin protein plaques that are impermeable to water. This hydrophobic barrier prevents water from escaping and evaporating from our body. At the same time, it creates a barrier that pathogens cannot overcome and many potentially toxic substances. Of course, this only happens if the skin is not damaged, puffed up. The mucous membranes, including those in the gut, work in slightly different ways. They protect us against the penetration of harmful substances and pathogenic microorganisms, because they are covered with mucus and have a dense structure of epithelia.
M.H .: Yes. Toxic substances cannot enter the body if the intestines have a he althy epithelium. Unfortunately, it is sometimes weakened. We know of several substances that we know can cause such damage to the gut, which leads to a phenomenon called leaky gut syndrome. This concept is not yet fully taken seriously in modern medicine, but there is a growing body of evidence in the form of serious scientific research that supports the use of the term "leaky gut syndrome". One substance that can lead to leakage in the gut is gluten, the presence of which in some people's food causes damage to the connections between the cells that make up the gut lining.
M.H .: It regpuje zonpina, a naturally occurring substance in our body, and recently discovered by prof. Alessio Fasano, an American doctor of Italian origin specializing in the treatment of celiac disease. Zonpine is identical to the toxin produced by the bacteria that causes cholera, a once common disease that manifests itself in massive diarrhea. In physiological conditions, zonpinwe need it when there is something harmful in the intestine and we need to get rid of it from the body. Then the connections between the epithelial cells are loosened, and as a result, a lot of water is released from the sub-epithelial tissue space, which rinses the intestine. It feels like diarrhea. But another, undesirable effect of zonpine is the unsealing of the intestinal mucosa and creating conditions for the penetration of undesirable substances. These are larger and more complex molecules that can be toxic or allergenic. These substances can be carried through the bloodstream to the liver and cause its failure. And because the liver is responsible for many physiological processes taking place in our body, its damage or overload with substances that have improperly penetrated from the intestines may cause diseases of the liver itself or, consequently, also of other organs.
M.H .: First of all, such widely used antibiotics, inter alia, by disturbing the composition of the intestinal bacterial flora. Another group of drugs is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which, unfortunately, are also commonly abused. The next factor is gluten. Its relationship with intestinal leakage and excessive zonpine concentrations has been recently proven, although its relationship with the development of celiac disease or celiac disease has been known for a long time. The same is true of type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease. There are also reports that the complete withdrawal of gluten has resulted in a reduction of joint inflammation in rheumatoid diseases.
M.H .: If I knew it exactly … But personally, I try to avoid highly processed food with a long shelf life, because it is full of preservatives, artificial flavor enhancers, dyes, etc. And this has a negative impact on the condition intestines, and therefore, in effect, our immune state. In addition, it is necessary to take care of the composition and condition of our probiotic intestinal flora. And here an important role is played, among others, by naturally fermented dairy products, and the object of my fascination in recent years, i.e. the most versatile, natural immune supplement - colostrum bovinum.
Worth knowingA drug that will seal the intestines
The team of prof. Alessio Fasano, an Italian gastroenterologist, is working on a drug that will stop the effect of zonulin, a substance that weakens the tightness of the gut. The test results arepromising, and scientists hope to be able to control the effects of zonulin, and thus also stop the gut leakage, by maintaining tight connections between the gut epithelial cells. Before the effects of work on antisonulin appear in pharmacies, the only effective sealant of the intestinal epithelium is colostrum bovinum. Its beneficial effects have been proven in many clinical studies. Colostrum, or colostrum - the first milk - is produced by female mammals for the first 48 hours after giving birth. The supplement containing colostrum can be purchased at pharmacies. Not only does it help to repair leaky intercellular junctions, but it is also an excellent prebiotic that facilitates the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by friendly bacteria. In addition, it supports the body in building immunity in many other ways.
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