468 | id == 468
468 | category_id == 27
468 | category_order == 24
468 | category_name == Fatigue
468 | category_color == #C47AC0
468 | slug == IL1B-fatigue
468 | title == An Inflammatory Signal in Short & Long Term Fatigue (IL1B)
468 | meta_description == IL1B encodes interleukin 1-beta, an inflammatory cytokine. How does this compound affect short- and long-term fatigue?
468 | summary == <p><strong><em>IL1B </em>encodes interleukin 1-beta, an inflammatory cytokine. How does this compound affect short- and long-term fatigue? Find out here.</strong></p>
468 | overall_score_text == Your Fatigue Score (based on IL1B)
468 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL1B-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome.jpg
468 | author_id == 1
468 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
468 | author_title == BSc, BEd
468 | author_order == 36
468 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
468 | 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>
468 | reviewer == None
468 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
468 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
468 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
468 | publish_date == 2020
468 | publish_date == 11
468 | publish_date == 10
468 | avg_rating == 5.0
468 | tags_id == 904
468 | tags_name == Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
468 | tags_id == 96
468 | tags_name == Cytokines
468 | tags_id == 68
468 | tags_name == Fatigue
468 | tags_id == 463
468 | tags_name == IL-1b
468 | tags_id == 464
468 | tags_name == IL1B gene
468 | tags_id == 95
468 | tags_name == Immune System
468 | tags_id == 24
468 | tags_name == Inflammation
468 | permissions_favorite == False
468 | permissions_rate == False
468 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes interleukin 1-beta, an inflammatory cytokine. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome by changing energy production in the short and long term. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by supporting healthy IL-1b function and promoting leptin sensitivity.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>IL1B</em></strong><strong> and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il1b/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is responsible for producing </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">interleukin 1</span></a><a href="https://selfhack.com/blog/interleukin-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">-beta</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (IL-1b), one of the chief inflammatory cytokines. IL-1b acts as an "alarm signal" from </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;"> (macrophages, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/monocytes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">monocytes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/neutrophils/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">neutrophils</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) in response to cell </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or damage [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/IL1B"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21304099"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24332029"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24734023"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the release of IL-1b normally increases in response to infection, its release can also increase after exposure to psychological stressors. For example, researchers studying the effects of childhood trauma on healthy adults found a significant link between childhood trauma and increased blood levels of IL-1b [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16647243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21745542/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23415658/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28599834/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-1b tends to be higher than normal in many psychological conditions, including </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26544749/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, in a meta-analysis of IL-1b levels in various diseases and disorders that cause fatigue, most studies found that IL-1b was lower than normal in patients with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-real-heres-test/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue syndrome</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (CFS) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251329/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These results directly contradicted findings in mental illness and fatigue associated with stroke, cancer, or arthritis; in all of these cases, more fatigue was linked with higher IL-1b [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251329/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some more detailed studies may help provide an explanation for this apparent conflict. One study found that short-term CFS patients had higher than normal IL-1b, while long-term CFS patients produced less IL-1b than expected. In another study, patients with moderate CFS had significantly higher IL-1b than patients with severe CFS [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251329/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, IL-1b may increase with acute fatigue and decrease with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/my-cutting-edge-protocol-to-cure-fatigue/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251329/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This complex relationship may have something to do with IL-1b&rsquo;s role as a signal molecule in the brain, where it improves </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/all-about-leptin-its-role-in-chronic-inflammation-cfs-and-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">leptin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> signalling, reducing appetite and increasing fat-burning. Low IL-1b, as in the case of chronic fatigue patients, may reduce the brain&rsquo;s </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-root-causes-of-leptin-resistance-and-12-ways-to-reverse-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sensitivity to leptin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and decrease energy production from fat [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16636119/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11889184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16213747/"><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;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes interleukin-1 beta, which is part of the inflammatory response to stressful events and infections. High IL-1b is associated with increased fatigue in short-term illnesses, while low IL-1b is associated with chronic fatigue in the long term.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>IL1B</em></strong><strong> Results for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p>*9021809846963169*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il1b/"><strong>IL1B</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs16944/"><strong>rs16944</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><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;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; =Associated with relatively higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Possibly protective against chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may slightly increase IL-1b production, leading to increased leptin sensitivity and higher energy production in the long term&mdash;but possibly increased short-term fatigue caused by other diseases [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251329/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*2251109516956650*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Increasing Energy Levels</strong></h2> <p>*6333621116747084*</p> <h3><strong>Exercise &amp; Physical Fitness</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Long-term </span><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;"> programs and physical fitness can ward off leptin resistance and increase baseline energy levels. In the short term, exercise increases the amount of IL-1b in the blood, but does not increase gene expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22975643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056484/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11157319/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2017/9290416/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A sedentary lifestyle is a common cause of persistent fatigue. Several studies have reported that practicing more </span><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;"> may reduce fatigue in healthy people. Paradoxically, being &lsquo;too tired&rsquo; was the most common excuse for not exercising in a study on middle-aged and elderly people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23783259/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18277063/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4816334/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24154584/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with chronic fatigue syndrome are at especially high risk of not meeting physical activity requirements. In people with this condition, engaging in regular physical exercise may help reduce fatigue &mdash; even more than in healthy controls according to one meta-analysis [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21166613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419524/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5026555/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have reported that exercise may help with fatigue from other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, lupus, ALS, fibromyalgia, muscle disease, and heart failure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068865/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5931245/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6168432/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6937526/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28477898/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32452880/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20091552/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16713337/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, over-exercising can lead to fatigue and several health issues. Experts recommend moderate exercise such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exercise and physical fitness help increase IL-1b levels in the short term and improve leptin resistance and fatigue in the long term.</span></p> <h3><strong>Iron-Rich Foods</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variation in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated with iron deficiency in children who are infected with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">H. pylori</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The relationship between IL-1b and iron appears to be complex: IL-1b immediately increases available iron, which over a longer term may increase iron-binding proteins that decrease available iron [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28727656/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10996652/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most common causes of fatigue is </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/iron-balance-blood-test-iron-deficiency-anemia-overload/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">iron deficiency</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Most of the iron in the body is found in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hemoglobin-good-bad-lab-tests-normal-values-reference-ranges/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hemoglobin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, where it helps to carry oxygen to cells for energy production. Iron is also needed for oxygen storage in the muscles, brain function, and immune system development and response [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3999603/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4086762/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12704220/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15692603/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several studies have associated iron deficiency (without anemia) with increased fatigue and worse overall health and well-being [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11190004/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28625177/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iron-rich foods include meat, poultry, organ meats, fish, shellfish, pulses, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and fortified foods [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1581009/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5155616/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because the effect of any given </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> allele on iron may be unpredictable, it&rsquo;s important to check your iron levels and eat iron-rich foods if you have a potentially harmful variant. You can use </span><a href="https://www.labtestanalyzer.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lab Test Analyzer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to see how your iron levels compare to optimal measurements.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with some variants of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene may be more prone to iron deficiency in times of stress and should be sure to eat plenty of iron-rich foods.</span></span></p> <h3><strong>N-Acetylcysteine</strong></h3> <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;">) may help promote IL-1b release from cells during periods of stress. While this may increase appropriate inflammation in the short term (in response to infection, for example), it may also help restore normal IL-1b in people with chronic fatigue [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11153595/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In multiple studies, both oral and infused </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;"> given before exercise reduced post-exercise muscle fatigue, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21740986/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24576857/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3374331/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17999779/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163015/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18708687/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18992854/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1995650/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24576857/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC also reduced fatigue due to lupus in 2 small clinical trials [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3411859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034122/"><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;">NAC may help increase IL-1b release when it is required for a response to infection. This supplement has also been helpful in fatigue in multiple studies.</span></p>
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468 | content_learn_more_2251109516956650_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your IL1B gene is somewhat associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of fatigue; it’s just one gene related to it. Exercise, iron-rich foods, and NAC may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs16944
rsStatus = rs16944,IL1B,chr2,112837290,A,G,,,28,11,HET
