134 | id == 134
134 | category_id == 17
134 | category_order == 14
134 | category_name == Respiratory Health
134 | category_color == #C47AC0
134 | slug == il17a-ards-lung-function
134 | title == Can This Gene Protect You From Lung Failure? (IL17A)
134 | meta_description == IL17A codes for a pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-17. Click to learn the link between this gene and acute lung failure.
134 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The IL17A gene codes for interleukin 17, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that combats pathogens but also plays a role in uncontrolled, harmful inflammation. Read on to learn about the link between one SNP in this gene and susceptibility to acute lung failure.</strong></p>
134 | overall_score_text == Your Respiratory Complications Score (Based on IL17A Gene)
134 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL17--ARDS.jpg
134 | author_id == 9
134 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
134 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
134 | author_order == 45
134 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
134 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
134 | reviewer == None
134 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
134 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
134 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
134 | publish_date == 2020
134 | publish_date == 4
134 | publish_date == 7
134 | avg_rating == 5.0
134 | tags_id == 347
134 | tags_name == Cytokine Storm
134 | tags_id == 349
134 | tags_name == IL17A gene
134 | tags_id == 95
134 | tags_name == Immune System
134 | tags_id == 76
134 | tags_name == Infections
134 | tags_id == 24
134 | tags_name == Inflammation
134 | tags_id == 290
134 | tags_name == Mediterranean diet
134 | tags_id == 353
134 | tags_name == NAC
134 | tags_id == 350
134 | tags_name == Respiratory Health
134 | tags_id == 232
134 | tags_name == Vitamin D
134 | tags_id == 341
134 | tags_name == Zinc
134 | permissions_favorite == False
134 | permissions_rate == False
134 | content_article == <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you suspect you may have any kind of infection, seek medical help immediately. </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, which are correlative and aren&rsquo;t necessarily causative. In addition, any single genetic variant will typically contribute only a small proportion to the overall risk of the condition, and non-genetic factors play a large role in developing a condition as well. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing this condition!</span></em></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What is IL17A?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/gene/il17a/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL17A</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene codes for an inflammatory cytokine, IL-17 (interleukin-17). Activated </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-people-th1-dominant/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Th1</span></a><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/th17/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">7</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> cells produce IL-17 to enhance the inflammatory response and recruit </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-and-decrease-white-blood-cells/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">white blood cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/neutrophils/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">neutrophils</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/monocytes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">monocytes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3605"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894442/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Up to a certain point, IL-17 plays a beneficial role in stimulating the immune response against microbes and other threats. However, excess amounts can cause widespread inflammation and contribute to a range of inflammatory disorders and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19161416/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19361847/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Role of IL-17 in Lung Failure</strong></h2> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ARDS</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a sudden lung failure caused by blood poisoning (sepsis), severe pneumonia, or other critical conditions. Most ARDS patients require urgent supportive care in the intensive care unit (ICU) to avoid a fatal outcome [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28157386/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26759013/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24584519/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">ARDS is a severe, often fatal complication of blood poisoning or respiratory diseases.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>&ldquo;Cytokine Storm&rdquo;</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Uncontrolled inflammation caused by excessive cytokine release is the hallmark of ARDS. The stimulation of white blood cells can cause a so-called cytokine storm and do more damage than the infection itself [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757701/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26895644/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27381687"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4176007/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32192578"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-17 is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines responsible for this phenomenon. Patients with ARDS usually have elevated IL-17 in the lungs and blood, which correlates with ARDS severity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29212183/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26540401/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>IL17A Genetic Variants and ARDS Susceptibility</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A group of Chinese authors examined the link between variants in the IL17A gene and ARDS susceptibility in 420 patients. According to their results, people with the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/snp/rs2275913/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2275913</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had significantly lower rates of ARDS and 30-day mortality [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not surprisingly, </span><strong>the "A" allele is associated with lower IL17A</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The effect was independent of age, sex, alcohol consumption, and smoking [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same allele appears to have protective effects against flu and tuberculosis but correlates with higher rates of cancer and different inflammatory conditions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27155288"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567579/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590416/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241634/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele at rs2275913 may correlate with lower ARDS rates and 30-day mortality.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How It Works</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chinese ARDS study tested the effects of this variant on IL-17 expression and blood levels. The authors observed a significant decrease per each copy of the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele and suggested its ability to prevent severe inflammation that leads to ARDS [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Limitations</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">Some studies suggest the opposite effects of <a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/snp/rs2275913/">rs2275913</a>-A on IL-17 levels and inflammation, based on its link with cancer and inflammatory conditions [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29530464">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30106258/">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130533/">R</a>].</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reduction in IL-17 levels may be ARDS-specific. There is also a possibility that initially higher IL-17 levels suppress microbial infections and thus prevent the cytokine storm later on. However, we should take the results with a grain of salt and avoid making conclusions until more research is done.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In any case, excessive IL-17 is not good, and a healthy immune response during the early stages of infection may reduce the risk of a cytokine storm later on.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The observed effect of rs2275913-A may be limited to Asian patients at risk of ARDS.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your IL17A Results for Respiratory Complications</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*8846429538088458*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL17A </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/snp/rs2275913/"><strong>rs2275913</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; - higher lung failure rates &amp; higher IL17, compared to people with the "A" allele</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; - associated with lower rates of lung failure &amp; lower IL17</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population frequency</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 46% of European descendants carry one copy and 15% carry both copies of the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s more common in East Asian but much less common in African populations, where only 9% carry one copy.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*5374203764880982*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations to Improve Lung &amp; Immune Health</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Discuss the strategies listed here with your doctor. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.</span></em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*7840983023380872*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sun Exposure</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunlight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> helps your body produce </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and has other crucial health benefits. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased rates of respiratory infections. What&rsquo;s more, both sun exposure and vitamin D may reduce the activity of Th17 cells, which produce IL-17 [</span><a href="https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-019-0507-6"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0054895"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2998156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People deficient in vitamin D are more likely to get tuberculosis. Limited research suggests supplementation may prevent tuberculosis or shorten the disease duration by strengthening the immune response [</span><a href="http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/37/1/113.long"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm/138.4.768?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed#.WA5xc_l96t8"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245055?dopt=Abstract"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A couple of studies revealed that vitamin D supplementation, especially over the winter months, may protect children against the flu and respiratory infections. The evidence for supplementation in adults is less consistent [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15562899/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1255.long"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/3/e561.long"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1367547"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Moderate sun exposure improves overall health and boosts vitamin D, which helps prevent respiratory infections. Both sunlight and vitamin D can reduce IL-17 levels.</span></p> <h4><strong>Avoid Cigarette Smoke</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smoking increases the production of IL17 (and other inflammatory cytokines) in the lungs, which is associated with COPD progression [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26135024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25844618"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4268887/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ARDS may arise as a complication of COPD, which is why smoking has been reported to increase the risk of this condition[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23978096"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you are concerned about your chances of developing ARDS or not, giving up smoking is always a good idea to improve your overall health.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Smoking increases lung inflammation, contributes to respiratory infection, and impairs overall health.</span></p> <h4><strong>Avoid Air Pollution</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pollution increased airway inflammation and the levels of IL-17 and other inflammatory markers in children with lupus and mice with COPD [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29098476"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28431315"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have associated long-term exposure to high air pollution levels with increased chances of developing ARDS and dying from it [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29706622"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30926395"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683074/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mediterranean Diet</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet has potent anti-inflammatory effects. In a trial of 450 adults, it was able to reduce the levels of IL-17 [</span><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0379572118783950"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The potential respiratory benefits of the Mediterranean diet have not been studied. However, it may support the immune function in people with chronic inflammatory diseases and improve lung function in smokers [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4443792/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6881294/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Zinc</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/literally-everything-wanted-know-zinc-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is essential for the normal development and function of many immune cells. Even a mild deficiency can impair immune function and increase the risk of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2200472"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/content/133/5/1452S.full"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In malnourished infants and children, zinc administration reduced the duration, severity, and incidence of respiratory infections [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9651405"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21660402"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26203094"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc may help improve health outcomes in severe forms of pneumonia. Zinc deficiency, which is common in older people, reduces immune defense and increases the risk of </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/walking-pneumonia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">walking pneumonia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and other infections [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854541/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20631326"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22856593"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23636236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to animal research, zinc suppresses </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/writers-office/article/stat3-inflammatory-bowel-disease-70"><span style="font-weight: 400;">STAT3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and lowers IL-17 levels [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20215335"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of 116 people, those who developed ARDS had lower blood </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/literally-everything-wanted-know-zinc-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">zinc </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">levels. The same study found that zinc deficiency stimulated the development of lung injuries due to mechanical ventilation in mice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5453708/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc-rich foods include seafood (especially oysters), liver, beef, pork, and pumpkin seeds [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Adequate levels of zinc ensure robust immunity and help prevent respiratory infections. The best dietary sources include seafood, meat, beans, and seeds.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>NAC</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-25-science-based-health-benefits-n-acetyl-cysteine-nac/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">N-acetylcysteine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or NAC is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It can suppress airway inflammation, partly by blocking the Th17 cells and lowering IL-17 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18990082"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14734137"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0753332218345530"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study of 262 older people, NAC cut the risk of catching the flu by 54% [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9230243"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctors often add NAC to standard treatments for respiratory inflammation and infections. It helps break down mucus and replenish </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/30-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-glutathione/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glutathione</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the lungs, thus reducing airway damage and breathing difficulties [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10968500"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28122105"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22507333"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC improved lung function and reduced </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alone or in combination with </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-vitamin-c-32-science-based-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin C</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and oxygen [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27117852"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23348146"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16298736"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two trials of 159 people with ARDS, intravenous NAC improved oxygen supply and reduced the ventilator use. It also reduced lung injury in one trial but not in another. Further research is warranted [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275731"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9459113"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">N-acetylcysteine (NAC) suppresses airway inflammation and lowers IL-17. According to preliminary research, it may help with different respiratory conditions, including ARDS.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Asian Ginseng</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asian </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ginseng/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ginseng</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Panax ginseng</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">), also known as red or Korean ginseng, can suppress the STAT3 pathway and reduce IL-17 levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4132415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6260618"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a review of 12 studies involving 1,560 COPD patients, Asian ginseng may improve the quality of life and lung function. It also enhanced the effectiveness of drug treatment [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21146973"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a trial of 227 people, those who took 100 mg of a ginseng extract (G115) were less likely to catch a cold or flu. The ginseng group also had higher levels of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/intro-natural-killer-cells-increase-decrease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NK cell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8879982"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Asian ginseng may reduce IL-17 and help with respiratory conditions such as COPD and flu.</span></p> <h4><strong>Probiotics</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplementation with different species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium lowered IL-17 levels in people with different inflammatory conditions such as eczema, gum disease, and juvenile arthritis, and in preterm babies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29022387"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244533/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4991513/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interventions with these probiotics reduced the incidence and duration of respiratory tract infections in multiple studies on both adults and children [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26821116"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30954261"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6597592/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537784/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26031908"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25841539"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></strong></h4> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Vitamin D and Zinc</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the reasons mentioned above, vitamin D and zinc are vital nutrients for immunity and respiratory protection. If you&rsquo;re struggling to maintain the optimal levels with sun exposure and a balanced diet, consider taking supplements. In the case of zinc, supplements could be beneficial even if you are getting enough.</span></p>
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134 | content_learn_more_5374203764880982_text == Based on the variant we looked at, your IL17A gene is associated with slightly lower rates of acute lung failure (ARDS). However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of ARDS, just one gene related to it. You have a moderately protective effect, but you may still want to maintain proper immunity and lung function. Keep reading for more details.
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rsIDs = rs2275913
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