148 | id == 148
148 | category_id == 17
148 | category_order == 14
148 | category_name == Respiratory Health
148 | category_color == #C47AC0
148 | slug == AGER-ARDS
148 | title == What Role Does This Immunoglobulin Play in Lung Failure? (AGER)
148 | meta_description == AGER activates NF-κB, increases inflammation, and may cause ARDS. Do you have high RAGE? Find out here.
148 | summary == <p><strong>AGER codes for a protein that activates NF-&kappa;B, increases inflammation, and may cause ARDS if it isn&rsquo;t properly regulated. Do you have high RAGE? Find out here.</strong></p>
148 | overall_score_text == Respiratory Complications Score (based on AGER)
148 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/AGER--ARDS.jpg
148 | author_id == 1
148 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
148 | author_title == BSc, BEd
148 | author_order == 36
148 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
148 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
148 | reviewer == None
148 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
148 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
148 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
148 | publish_date == 2020
148 | publish_date == 4
148 | publish_date == 13
148 | avg_rating == 5.0
148 | tags_id == 368
148 | tags_name == AGER Gene
148 | tags_id == 95
148 | tags_name == Immune System
148 | tags_id == 76
148 | tags_name == Infections
148 | tags_id == 24
148 | tags_name == Inflammation
148 | tags_id == 369
148 | tags_name == NF-κB
148 | tags_id == 350
148 | tags_name == Respiratory Health
148 | tags_id == 336
148 | tags_name == Respiratory Infection
148 | permissions_favorite == False
148 | permissions_rate == False
148 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">?</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for the receptor for advanced glycation end products&mdash;a protein called RAGE. RAGE is a type of immunoglobulin, an immune protein that binds to other proteins and activates the immune response [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6378764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RAGE comes in two forms: a receptor that sits on cells and soluble RAGE (sRAGE), which circulates in the bloodstream [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1892766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6378764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RAGE is produced at the highest levels in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lung</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> compared to other tissues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">sRAGE levels have been linked to many diseases, including diabetes, autoimmunity, cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease. Broadly speaking, RAGE appears to cause inflammation of the blood vessels, predisposing them to atherosclerosis, additional inflammation, and extensive damage [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1892766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6378764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">sRAGE tends to play a role in chronic inflammatory conditions rather than short-term diseases, though it has been linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients receiving intensive care [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805783/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">RAGE and NF-&kappa;B: a Feedback Loop</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RAGE causes inflammation primarily by activating </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nuclear-factor-kappa-b/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NF-&kappa;B</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which then increases the production of other inflammatory signals like </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25106630"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/107/6/2669.full"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, increased NF-&kappa;B also circles back around and promotes RAGE. This feedback loop may make it difficult to break out of the cycle of inflammation, leading to potentially worse outcomes unless either RAGE or NF-&kappa;B is blocked [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25106630"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://jlb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1189/jlb.1012519"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This inflammatory feedback loop could feed into cytokine storms and make ARDS more likely to occur.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for a protein called RAGE which increases potentially harmful inflammation by activating NF-&kappa;B.</span></span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is ARDS?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ARDS is a progressive, life-threatening condition that may develop from severe cases of respiratory diseases such pneumonia. During ARDS, the lungs no longer work properly because they get filled with fluid leaking from the blood vessels. This leads to labored breathing, insufficient oxygen supply, and eventually organ failure. People with ARDS often need to go on a ventilator, and over 40% of them end up dying [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24364461"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27028393"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108259/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4267590/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER Polymorphisms and ARDS</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants have been studied for their relationships to various diseases. However, only one has been directly linked to ARDS: at rs2070600, the rare &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele is associated with higher rates of ARDS and more severe respiratory infection [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805783/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The relationship is dramatic for people with the very rare &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype. In one study, 14 out of 15 people with the &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype developed ARDS within a week of entering intensive care, compared to 45 out of 449 people with &lsquo;CT&rsquo; or &lsquo;CC&rsquo; genotypes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805783/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype here is believed to increase the amount of circulating sRAGE in ICU patients, leading to increased NF-&kappa;B activation and potentially dangerous inflammation. Because RAGE inflammation is tied to NF-&kappa;B, the key may therefore be to block NF-&kappa;B [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805783/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25106630"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://jlb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1189/jlb.1012519"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">At rs2070600, over 90% of people with the &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype developed ARDS less than a week after entering the ICU.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your AGER Results for Lung Health</span></h2> <p>*1359643788381523*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><strong>AGER rs2070600</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Relatively lower soluble RAGE expression in ICU patients, no association with ARDS</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Increased soluble RAGE expression in ICU patients, associated with higher rates of ARDS (mainly &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Less than 1% of all people worldwide have the most detrimental &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype is significantly more common (but still rare) in people of East Asian (4%). This genotype is all but nonexistent in all other populations.</span></li> </ul> <p>*7490082554292984*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Support Immunity &amp; Lung Health</span></h2> <p>*7469217518477609*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Note on RAGE &amp; NF-&kappa;B</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are few studies on strategies, diets, or supplements that directly influence RAGE or sRAGE. However, we do know that NF-&kappa;B, an inflammatory signal, is part of a feedback loop that increases both inflammation and RAGE. Furthermore, researchers have studied how many compounds promote or block the formation of AGEs, the compounds that bind to RAGE receptors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25106630"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583887/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and physical fitness improve the immune response and reduce rates of illness. However, for the purposes of immunity and preventing infections, it&rsquo;s important to stay within your comfort zone; periods of intense physical training have been linked to windows of reduced immunity [</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301005"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In simple terms, getting and staying physically fit but not overtaxing yourself could help improve defenses against viral infection. Exercise has also been found to specifically reduce NF-&kappa;B in human muscle, according to a study of active adult men; it may also prevent the formation of AGEs [</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301005"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22189669"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6291474/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has also been found to decrease inflammation, reduce NF-&kappa;B, and potentially improve the immune response, but more data is required [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29429046"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4060606/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Physical fitness and moderate exercise broadly decrease inflammation and improve immunity.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avoiding Zinc Deficiency</span></h3> <p><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 considered crucial for good immune defense. Even a mild deficiency can impair immune function and increase the risk of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections [</span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.25707"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </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></p> <p><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><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><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some estimates, zinc deficiency contributes to about 16% of lower respiratory infections. Unsurprisingly, zinc deficiency has also been linked to higher NF-&kappa;B and the formation of AGEs [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490603/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12878048"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16964525"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1440-1681.12904"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements are available, but most people get enough zinc from zinc-rich foods like seafood (especially oysters), beef, pork, beans, 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><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Zinc deficiency impairs the immune response and increases inflammation. Most people can avoid deficiency by eating zinc-rich foods like beef and pork.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mediterranean Diet</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet is a popular option for people looking to reduce inflammation through what they eat. One of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of this diet appears to be through reduced activation of NF-&kappa;B [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22085595"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clinical trials have found that eating a Mediterranean diet protected immune function in people with chronic inflammatory diseases and improved 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> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One study found that the Mediterranean diet also reduced the production of AGEs [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26040359"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, the diet can help reduce blood pressure and your risk for cardiovascular and heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30817261"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.12259"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can also help increase </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin sensitivity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and prevent type 2 diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27395419"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24357346"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil, with moderate intakes of fish, chicken, and meat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The Mediterranean diet is a popular anti-inflammatory diet that may also improve the immune response.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anti-Inflammatory Foods</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Olive Oil</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Olive oil is actually fairly high in AGEs; however, its anti-inflammatory properties outweigh any detrimental effects of AGEs binding to their receptors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704564/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is considered an essential anti-inflammatory component of a successful Mediterranean diet, and it is believed to be partially responsible for the benefits of this diet. Furthermore, using olive oil as a primary dietary fat appears to prevent NF-&kappa;B activation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6949890/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2670406/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garlic</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garlic extracts have also been found to reduce NF-&kappa;B activation in human blood. Garlic also prevents the formation of AGEs, with aged garlic being more effective than fresh for this purpose [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12840173"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep39613"><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 120 people, aged </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garlic-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">extract reduced the severity of colds and the flu. It increased the number of immune cells (T cells and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/intro-natural-killer-cells-increase-decrease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NK cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), thus boosting the immune system while lowering inflammatory proteins (cytokines) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22280901"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588383"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another clinical trial on 146 healthy volunteers found that taking an allicin-containing garlic supplement every day helped prevent the common </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/12-reasons-embrace-cold/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cold</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and reduce its duration [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11697022"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ginger</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ginger suppresses NF-&kappa;B activation and may also block the formation of AGEs [</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210803318300496"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26247545"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 32 critically ill patients with ARDS and dependent on mechanical ventilation, a diet supplemented with ginger (given through a feeding tube) improved blood oxygen levels, reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation, and prevented pneumonia [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22884532"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20149584"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tea</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tea polyphenols have also been found to reduce NF-&kappa;B activation in animals and cells. Both green and black tea also prevent the formation of AGEs [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24630969"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep34520"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29043349"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study, healthcare workers who consumed large quantities of catechins (the equivalent of 2-3 cups of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">green tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> per day) were less likely to develop respiratory tract infections than those who did not [</span><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/4/htm"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Certain foods have been found to block NF-&kappa;B activation, prevent the formation of AGEs, and broadly reduce inflammation. These include olive oil, garlic, and tea.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish Oil (DHA)</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">DHA&rsquo;s anti-inflammatory benefits may be tied to NF-&kappa;B suppression [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12388359"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In rats, feeding fish oil directly reduced the expression of RAGE. This effect has not been studied in humans yet, but it suggests that fish oil could be an especially good supplement for people with high-RAGE genotypes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23769041"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A number of studies suggest that </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">omega-3</span></a><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/fish-oil-top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> fatty acids</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (such as </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">DHA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) may improve lung function, primarily by reducing inflammation in the airways [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6533751/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25572556"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30703574"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A scientific review of 7 clinical trials of over 2,000 children suggests that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of wheezing and asthma in the child [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30253674"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrographis</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrographolide, an active compound from andrographis, blocks NF-&kappa;B [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4804993/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-12-scientific-benefits-of-andrographis-paniculata-including-dosage-safety-and-side-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrographis </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">extracts reduced symptoms such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and headache in people with uncomplicated respiratory tract infections [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11081985"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14750201"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12487322"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20092985"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 33 trials with over 7k people concluded that andrographis can help reduce the severity and duration of respiratory infections [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5544222/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astragalus</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astragalus has been found to block NF-&kappa;B in a lab setting. Its active compounds may also prevent the formation of AGEs; however, these effects have only been observed in cell studies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30223923"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 2 studies concluded that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/astragalus/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">astragalus </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">might prevent upper respiratory tract infections in children with kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome). However, another scientific review could not identify any strong clinical trials that support the use of astragalus for respiratory infections [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3638577/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6463872/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">N-acetylcysteine (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-25-science-based-health-benefits-n-acetyl-cysteine-nac/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) is an anti-inflammatory compound that blocks NF-&kappa;B and prevents tissue damage [</span><a href="https://www.fasebj.org/doi/full/10.1096/fasebj.13.13.1845"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30274809"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><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><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anti-inflammatory supplements that block NF-&kappa;B and prevent the formation of AGEs may be especially helpful to people with problematic </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGER</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> alleles. Fish oil may directly decrease the expression of RAGE.</span></span></p>
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148 | content_learn_more_7490082554292984_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your AGER gene is associated with somewhat increased sRAGE, inflammation, and incidence of ARDS. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of ARDS, just one gene related to it. Exercise and anti-inflammatory foods and supplements may help; be sure to follow the CDC’s guidelines to prevent infection.
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rsIDs = rs2070600
rsStatus = rs2070600,AGER,chr6,32183666,C,T,,,12,0,Normal
