At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 214

diseases. Excess salt may affect how
cells in the immune system function,
leading to 'aggressive behaviour'
by 'T helper cells' that normally
help to fight bacteria or viruses.
This may increase the risk of AI
conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
'Excess salt may be one
environmental factor driving the
increase in AI diseases,' says
Professor David Haflgenericer of
Yale University. 'Humans were
genetically selected for conditions
in sub-Saharan Africa, where there
was no salt. Today, Western diets
have a high salt content, leading
to an increase in hypertension and
perhaps AI diseases too.'
Most UK adults consume twice
the recommended daily intake of
6g salt. For many of us, the result
could be devastating.

Vitamin D deficiency

Our increasingly indoor lifestyles
mean that many of us are deficient
in vitamin D, which is produced
when skin is exposed to sunlight.
We know this can cause problems
with bone development, but
scientists believe it may also play
a significant role in AI conditions.
In fact, people born at the end of
winter, when the mother's vitamin D
levels are lowest, are more likely to
develop conditions such as multiple
sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes.
'AI diseases are one of the most
common disease groups in modern
economies, and vitamin D deficiency
is an obvious risk factor,' says
Dr Sreeram Ramagopalan, who
worked on a recent study at the
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human
Genetics at Oxford University.
'The prevalence of these diseases
correlate with latitude and reduced
ultraviolet radiation exposure,
which is the primary determinant
of vitamin D levels.'
Other studies at Oxford University
have linked at least 18 AI diseases
with vitamin D deficiency.
Meanwhile, research at the
University of Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts General Hospital
found vitamin D can help slow down
the progress of these diseases.

The rise in obesity

A recently study at Tel Aviv
University in Israel found being
obese could act as a trigger for AI
diseases including rheumatoid
arthritis, lupus and inflammatory
bowel disease. This is because fat
214 | MARCH 2015

COULD YOU
HAVE AN
AUTOIMMUNE
DISEASE?
DISEASE: Lupus
FEMALE/MALE RATIO: 9:1
ABOUT: The body attacks
its own connective tissues,
causing fatigue, pain and
inflammation throughout
the whole body.
AGE ONSET: Usually 15-50.

'THE CAUSES OF AI
DISEASES AREN'T YET
FULLY UNDERSTOOD,
BUT THEY RUN IN
FAMILIES, POINTING TO
A GENETIC FACTOR'

DISEASE: Rheumatoid arthritis
FEMALE/MALE RATIO: 5:2
ABOUT: Joints become stiff,
painful and swollen, which
causes damage to bone
and cartilage.
AGE ONSET: Usually 40-50.
DISEASE: Graves' disease
FEMALE/MALE RATIO: 7:1
ABOUT: Thyroid gland
becomes dangerously
overactive; can lead to
problems with sight.
AGE ONSET: Usually 20-40.
DISEASE: Multiple sclerosis
FEMALE/MALE RATIO: 2:1
ABOUT: Nerve sheaths
are damaged, leading to
problems with speech, vision
and movement.
AGE ONSET: Usually 20-40.
DISEASE: Hashimoto's (chronic
lymphocytic) thyroiditis
FEMALE/MALE RATIO: 10:1
ABOUT: Thyroid gland
becomes swollen and
damaged, leading to fatigue,
weight gain and depression;
also often sensitivity to cold.
AGE ONSET: Usually 30-50.

tissue disrupts numerous physiological
functions and breaks down the
body's natural 'self tolerance'.
Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld, chair
for Research of Autoimmune
Diseases at Tel Aviv University, says:
'A new factor has emerged in the
development of AI diseases that
cannot be ignored: obesity.'
According to the World Health
Organisation, an alarming 35%
of the global community is now
overweight or even obese, and

at least a dozen AI diseases are
definitely known to be associated
with increased weight.'

The infection paradox

In some cases, AI diseases may be
triggered by a virus.
For instance, Guillain-Barré
syndrome (damage to the peripheral
nervous system) may be triggered
by a chlamydophila pneumoniae
infection; coxsackievirus B has been
strongly correlated with Type 1
At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Dr Christian Jessen
