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High Fiber Diets May Help With Allergies

Elizabeth Fox
22nd June, 2016

High Fiber Diets May Help With Allergies
Diets high in fiber may be a step toward a cure for allergies, according to recent research published in the journal Cell Reports. Mice that were given a high-fiber diet had a much lower occurrence of allergies. Specifically, the scientists tested peanut allergies but their findings suggest that fiber can help with other allergies. The researchers tested mice that had peanut allergies (induced artificially). One group was given a high-fiber diet while the control group was given a diet that was identical except for containing less fiber. In the experimental group, bacteria in the gut released a fatty acid in response to the high amount of fiber. This fatty acid binds to receptors found on immune system cells called regulatory T cells. This reaction helps reduce inflammation in the gut and tones down the allergic response. Macia and Mackay do caution that this effect may not translate to human allergies. More studies need to be conducted and different sources of fiber need to be analyzed. Currently, it’s hard to say if all fiber would have these effects. Importantly, these studies were done on mice and it’s unknown if human guts respond the same way to fiber intake. A high fiber diet isn’t a bad idea, though, and most people don’t get enough in their diet. Now there’s one more reason to consider increasing fiber consumption—it might help with allergies and other sources of inflammation. Expanding on this pivotal research, the study highlights how a high-fiber diet not only promotes a healthier gut microbiome but also plays a critical role in the immune system's response to allergens. By delving deeper into the mechanisms at play, researchers discovered that the beneficial effects of a high-fiber diet are mediated through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate and butyrate. These SCFAs, particularly when combined with vitamin A, increase the potency of tolerogenic CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs), which are essential for developing tolerance to food antigens. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of dietary elements in regulating the immune system. The findings indicate that the protective effects against food allergies depend significantly on the presence of vitamin A in the diet, highlighting the interconnectedness of different dietary components in immune regulation. Additionally, the high-fiber diet was shown to enhance retinal dehydrogenase activity in CD103+ DCs, further contributing to the protective mechanism against allergies. The research also sheds light on the role of specific receptors, GPR43 and GPR109A, in this process. Mice lacking these receptors exhibited exacerbated food allergies and a reduced presence of CD103+ dendritic cells, emphasizing the critical role of SCFAs in maintaining immune tolerance. In conclusion, this study provides compelling evidence that dietary fiber, along with vitamin A, plays a multifaceted role in protecting against food allergies. By enhancing the gut microbiota's production of SCFAs, promoting regulatory pathways in the immune system, and boosting mucosal responses, a high-fiber diet emerges as a promising avenue for allergy prevention and management. As researchers continue to explore the implications of these findings, the potential for dietary interventions to complement traditional allergy treatments becomes increasingly evident. REFERENCE Tan, J., et al. (2016). Dietary Fiber and Bacterial SCFA Enhance Oral Tolerance and Protect against Food Allergy through Diverse Cellular Pathways. Cell Reports, 15(12), 2809–2824
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