180 | id == 180
180 | category_id == 16
180 | category_order == 13
180 | category_name == Gut Health
180 | category_color == #C47AC0
180 | slug == HLA-DRB1-inflammation-IBD
180 | title == Genetic Background of Autoimmune Gut Inflammation (HLA-DRB1)
180 | meta_description == HLA-DRB1 encodes a receptor crucial for gut immunity. Certain variants in this gene correlate with IBD—click to learn more.
180 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>HLA-DRB1</em> gene encodes a receptor with crucial roles in antimicrobial defense and autoimmunity. Learn about the variants in this gene associated with IBD and get personalized tips to reduce gut inflammation.</strong></p>
180 | overall_score_text == Your IBD Score (Based on HLA-DRB1 Gene)
180 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/HLA-DRB1--Gut-Inflammation-IBD---all-chips.jpg
180 | author_id == 9
180 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
180 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
180 | author_order == 45
180 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
180 | 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>
180 | reviewer == None
180 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
180 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
180 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
180 | publish_date == 2020
180 | publish_date == 5
180 | publish_date == 11
180 | avg_rating == 5.0
180 | tags_id == 33
180 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
180 | tags_id == 195
180 | tags_name == Crohn's Disease
180 | tags_id == 244
180 | tags_name == Fish oil
180 | tags_id == 422
180 | tags_name == HLA complex
180 | tags_id == 248
180 | tags_name == HLA-DRB1 gene
180 | tags_id == 73
180 | tags_name == IBD
180 | tags_id == 24
180 | tags_name == Inflammation
180 | tags_id == 196
180 | tags_name == Ulcerative Colitis
180 | tags_id == 232
180 | tags_name == Vitamin D
180 | tags_id == 341
180 | tags_name == Zinc
180 | permissions_favorite == False
180 | permissions_rate == False
180 | content_article == <p><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 digestive issues, seek medical help. </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. 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 an increased risk of developing this condition!</span></em></p> <h2><strong>HLA-DRB1 &amp; Gut Inflammation</strong></h2> <h3><strong>The HLA System</strong></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> system is a group of human genes encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. HLAs are proteins or antigens on the surface of </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;">. They help flag and remove external agents that may harm the body or cause infections [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-B"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genes come in many different forms, and there are millions of their possible combinations. Their diversity ensures the protection against a wide array of external threats, but it can be a double-edged sword: HLA variants correlate with different autoimmune disorders [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5748415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647156/"><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;">The HLA system encodes receptors that help flag and remove foreign structures from our bodies. These genes have a well-known connection with different autoimmune disorders.</span></p> <h3><strong>HLA-DRB1</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The HLA system has three groups or classes; HLA-DRB1 belongs to class II. These receptors present outside peptides (antigens) to T-helper cells, triggering the immune response to attack and neutralize them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2493721"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-DRB1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes the beta chain, which merges with the alpha chain to form the HLA-DR receptor. Hundreds of DRB1 variants (alleles) can change the structure and activity of this receptor and thus impact the immune response [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-DRB1"><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;">HLA-DRB1 encodes one part of the receptor that presents antigens to T-helper cells and triggers the immune response against them. Different genetic variants can change their structure and activity.</span></p> <h3><strong>The Role of HLA-DRB1 in IBD</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/crohns-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crohn&rsquo;s disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (CD) and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ulcerative-colitis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ulcerative </span></a><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ibd-ulcerative-colitis-crohn-genetics-lifestyle-stress-infections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">colitis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (UC) are two of the most frequently diagnosed subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The cause of IBD lies in a complex interplay of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ibd-ulcerative-colitis-crohn-genetics-lifestyle-stress-infections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">genetic and environmental factors</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106026/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crohn's mostly affects the small intestine and involves ulcerations of all cell layers of the gut lining. Ulcerative colitis typically affects the colon and rectum and involves the inflammation of the gut mucosal layer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622286/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30837080"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-DRB1 plays a vital role in gut health by controlling the immune response against pathogens. It presents pathogenic peptides to white blood cells, enabling their removal [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4479531/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, specific types of this receptor may mistakenly flag our own peptides and thus contribute to autoimmune gut inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4087453/"><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;">Crohn&rsquo;s disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of IBD. HLA-DRB1 flags pathogenic peptides in the gut, but it may also play a role in autoimmune gut inflammation.</span></p> <h2><strong>HLA-DRB1 Variants and IBD Susceptibility</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The HLA complex is a part of IBD3, a genetic region strongly associated with both Crohn&rsquo;s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) across different populations [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10579120/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10053016/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14976156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This region accounts for 10-33% of the total genetic risk for Crohn's and 64%-100% for UC [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10075959/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8622450/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs2395185</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a meta-analysis of over 3,600 subjects, the &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs2395185/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2395185</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> correlated with 50% lower rates of ulcerative colitis. A more comprehensive meta-analysis (n=9,484) confirmed this effect [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3087600/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2652837/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of 1,500 Indian subjects came to the same conclusion: UC was over 50% less common among the &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele carriers [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3031575/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a trial of 94 IBD patients, the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele was associated with a poor response to anti-</span><a href="../article/tnf-longevity-86"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> treatment. In people with this allele, the treatment had 4.6x higher chances of failure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2889173/"><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;">The &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele at rs2395185 is associated with lower rates of ulcerative colitis and a better response to IBD treatment.</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs3763313</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs3763313/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs3763313</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is associated with 19% higher rates of Crohn&rsquo;s disease, according to a meta-analysis of three studies and over 15,000 European subjects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574810/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another meta-analysis with nearly 9.5K European participants linked the same allele with ulcerative colitis [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3087600/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs9271366</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This variant showed a strong </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">correlation with ulcerative colitis (UC) in different populations, including [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685036/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21699788/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21699788/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Afro-American</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Japanese</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Korean</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among 3,308 Afro-American subjects, those with the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs9271366/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs9271366</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had 60% higher UC rates [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685036/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>How It Works</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists are still figuring out the exact mechanism by which HLA class II genes impact IBD. There are many different variants in this region, and it's hard to tell which one plays an actual role in autoimmune gut inflammation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alleles marked by the SNPs we discussed can change the structure of HLA-DR receptors, causing them to confuse healthy proteins in the gut for pathogenic ones. This phenomenon is known as &ldquo;molecular mimicry&rdquo; and may lead to autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7903159/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rs2395185 marks the allele HLA-</span><strong>DRB1*1101</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, while rs9271366 marks HLA-</span><strong>DRB1*1502</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Both alleles may have a functional role in IBD by changing the HLA-DR structure. Additionally, the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele at rs2395185 was associated with higher expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-DRB1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DQA1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19846760/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17873877/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685036/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These variants don't strictly belong to the HLA-DRB1 gene. They are located in the region that encompasses more genes, including BTLN2 and HLA-DQ genes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4223237/"><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;">The above SNPs mark the alleles that may change the structure and activity of different HLA class II genes. These changes can contribute to autoimmune gut inflammation, the hallmark of IBD.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Your HLA-DRB1 Results for IBD</strong></h2> <p>*6372502152264434*</p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>HLA-DRB1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs2395185/"><strong>rs2395185</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = associated with a poor response to IBD treatment</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = associated with lower rates of ulcerative colitis</span></li> </ul> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 54% of European and East Asian descendants carry at least one copy of the &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s less common in African populations (34%).</span></p> <p><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>HLA-DRB1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs3763313/"><strong>rs3763313</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = not associated with ulcerative colitis or Crohn&rsquo;s disease&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = associated with higher rates of ulcerative colitis and Crohn&rsquo;s disease</span></li> </ul> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Between 38-44% of people carry at least one copy of the &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele across all populations.</span></p> <p><strong><em>HLA-DRB1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs9271366/"><strong>rs9271366</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = not associated with ulcerative colitis&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = associated with higher rates of ulcerative colitis</span></li> </ul> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 22% of European and African descendants carry the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s a bit more common in East Asian populations (29%).</span></p> <p>*5074248599770783*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Reduce Gut Inflammation</strong></h2> <p><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>*5070935064248665*</p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some research has suggested that UV light and </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;"> have beneficial effects on autoimmunity by suppressing the HLA class II inflammatory molecules [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4603567/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3626364/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047889/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16046118"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moderate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sun exposure</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the best way to get natural UV light and vitamin D, which both help suppress inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566188/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20635942"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IBD is associated with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/calcium-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">calcium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and vitamin D deficiencies and subsequent osteoporosis, which makes sun exposure critical. Vitamin D deficiency may increase IBD severity, so it's a vicious cycle&nbsp; [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4202340/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16112594"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257592/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6757415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29762159"><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;">Moderate sun exposure can suppress HLA class II receptors, reduce inflammation, and prevent vitamin D deficiency, which is common in IBD patients.</span></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Avoid Lectins and Other Food Irritants</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dietary </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lectins-beneficial-harmful/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lectins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may worsen inflammation in people sensitive to them. They increase the expression of HLA class II molecules, potentially worsening the effect of your variants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1115436/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10884708"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Preliminary research suggests that avoiding lectins may reduce the symptoms of autoimmune conditions in sensitive individuals. Still, more research is needed to clarify the possible connection between lectins and autoimmunity in humans [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599185"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to research, the following foods may also be problematic for IBD patients and those at risk [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28244679"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843040/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153885/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">FODMAPs</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Margarine and certain cooking oils (omega-6 PUFAs)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animal protein (excluding fish)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Processed meat</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alcohol</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elimination diets such as the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/elimination-diet-safest-foods-people-sensitive-everything/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lectin Avoidance Diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may help identify and remove common food irritants that may be worsening autoimmunity in sensitive individuals [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10884708"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599185"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5647120/"><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;">Dietary compounds such as lectins and FODMAPs may contribute to HLA-associated gut inflammation. Elimination diets may help identify food sensitivities, but their therapeutic potential is not well-researched.</span></p> <h4><strong>Increase Zinc Intake</strong></h4> <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;"> deficiency may contribute to inflammation by stimulating MHC (HLA) class II molecules [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425307/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a comprehensive study with over 170K women, increased zinc intake correlated with lower rates of Crohn&rsquo;s disease but not ulcerative colitis. Food sources showed a stronger connection than zinc supplements [</span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/44/6/1995/2572627"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 1,000 IBD patients, zinc deficiency correlated with more frequent hospitalizations, surgeries, and complications [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5177471/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Best food sources of zinc include meat, seafood (especially oysters), and 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></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Zinc deficiency can contribute to HLA-related inflammation. Adequate zinc intake may lower the risk of IBD and its complications.</span></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Omega-3/Fish Oil</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of 136 subjects, omega-3 fatty acids found in </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (EPA and DHA) were beneficial in those carrying the HLA class II risk alleles for autoimmunity. Omega-3s suppressed HLA-DRB1 in one animal study [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5371398/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172650/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">High intake of fish oil omega-3s may be protective against the development of Crohn&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153885/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is unclear whether omega-3 supplementation can help with Crohn&rsquo;s disease that has already developed and progressed. However, multiple studies have suggested that omega-3s may help keep it in remission [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153885/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700845/"> <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;">Omega-3 supplementation may suppress HLA-DRB1, prevent Crohn&rsquo;s disease, or keep it in remission.</span></p> <h4><strong>Black Cumin</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/black-cumin-seed-nigella-sativa-top-scientific-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black cumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or black seed has well-known anti-inflammatory properties. Its active ingredient, thymoquinone, may reduce the expression of HLA class II receptors on immune cells [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20110691"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of black cumin are beneficial for a range of digestive disorders. It improved colitis in animals, but clinical trials are yet to confirm this [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884214/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20658190"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p>
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180 | content_learn_more_5074248599770783_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your HLA-DRB1 gene is associated with slightly higher IBD rates. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of IBD, just one gene related to it. Get more sunlight and increase zinc intake to prevent gut inflammation. Keep reading to learn more.
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