Autoimmune disease (AID) in Australia and worldwide refers to a group of chronic inflammatory conditions characterised by an inappropriate immune response in which the immune system produces auto-antibodies to an endogenous antigen. Autoimmune disease may be systemic as with lupus or restricted to certain organs as with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

AID worldwide has significantly increased over the past 20 years and has more than tripled in Australia in the last decade. It currently affects around 5% of people in Australia, with women affected far more commonly than men.

Types of Autoimmune Disease in Australia

There are dozens of different autoimmune diseases. Symptoms will depend on the organs or tissues affected. Some of the more common ones include:

Alopecia areata: loss of hair from some or all of the body, mainly the scalp
Ankylosing spondylitis: affects joints of the spine and sacroiliac joint, causing fusion and rigidity
Antiphospholipid syndrome: provokes blood clots in arteries and veins
Autism: new research is suggesting that autism may be auto-immune in origin
Chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia: possibly auto-immune in origin
Celiac disease: affects villi of small intestine
Crohn’s disease: inflammatory bowel disease affecting entire colon wall, mostly the lower ileum
Dermatitis herpetiformis: affects skin, particularly elbows, knees, back and neck; associated with celiac disease
Type 1 diabetes: affects pancreatic beta-cells causing insulin deficiency
Goodpasture’s syndrome: affects kidneys and lungs
Grave’s disease: affects thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism
Guillan-Barre syndrome: affects peripheral nervous system
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: affects thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism
Multiple sclerosis: affects myelin sheath in neurons of brain and spinal cord
Myasthenia gravis: affects muscles, especially those around the eyes
Parkinson’s disease: affects dopamine-generating cells in the central nervous system
Pernicous anaemia: affects parietal cells in stomach, leading to B12 deficiency
Psoriasis: affects keratinocytes
Rheumatoid arthritis: musculoskeletal disorder affecting connective tissue in joints
Schizophrenia: may be triggered by autoimmune reaction in brain cells
Sjogren’s syndrome: affects exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands
Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE): systemic disorder affecting skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, brain and blood cells
Ulcerative colitis: inflammatory bowel disease, affecting mucosa of large colon
Vitiligo: affects melanocytes

Causes of Autoimmune Disease in Australia

The exact cause of autoimmune disease is poorly understood but is generally agreed to be multifactorial, involving a combination of genetic, environmental, hormonal and immune factors. It appears that autoimmune disease occurs in genetically susceptible individuals after exposure to certain environmental factors, especially certain microorganisms or toxins.

Other factors may include nutritional factors, gut dysbiosis and stress. In our Perth clinic of Advanced Functional Medicine we have yet to see an autoimmune case where gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability and/or diet and lifestyle where not significant driving factors of the disease.

In auto-immune disease, it is thought that environmental triggers initiate production of inflammatory cytokines which then activate Th1 and Th17, which then attack self-antigens.

Defects in the T regulatory cells fail to inhibit the attack, leading to inflammation, antibody production and tissue damage.

The body confuses and marks healthy cells as pathogenic and mounts an attack on these healthy cells.

Risk factors of Autoimmune Disease in Australia

Genetic predisposition: only thought to account for a minority of cases. It is important to note that not everyone with genetic mutations associated with AID clinically manifests the disease. Of those who do, there is a wide variation in the progression and severity of the disease.
Female: account for 75% of auto-immune disease
Viral, bacterial and mycoplasma infections: of all the environmental factors known to induce autoimmunity in susceptible individuals, infections are the most significant. Infections can trigger autoimmunity via molecular mimicry and bystander activation. Agents include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and coxsackie B virus. These are pathogens we commonly uncover in our patients through investigation into gut health.
Exposure to toxic metals and chemicals e.g. smoking, hair dyes, environmental and occupational pollutants, medications, recreational drugs, personal care products, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, food additives, persistent organic pollutants (POPS)
Gut dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability: the microbiota is intricately involved in the regulation of immune homoeostasis. Researchers have proposed that host microbes play a critical role in chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly autoimmune disease.
Dietary factors e.g. gluten, casein, excess fructose, excess salt, vitamin D deficiency, high omega-6:omega-3 ratio, cross reactivity of other foods etc.
Food allergies and sensitivities
Inflammatory environment: causes dysregulation of T regulatory cells
Exposure to parasites, candida and endemic infectious diseases
Psychological stress: has been shown to increase the risk of autoimmunity

Investigations & Testing Considerations for autoimmune disease in Australia

Comprehensive Blood Chemistry
Auto-antibody testing
Intestinal permeability
Advanced Stool Testing
SIBO
Hair tissue mineral analysis
Vitamin D3 & B12
Pathogen testing
Comprehensive metabolic blood

TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Regulate immune response
Identify and treat any parasite, bacterial, fungal and pathogenic infections
Reduce antigenic load (food antigens, toxins, pathogens)
Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
Optimise intestinal microflora and promote intestinal repair
Promote tissue repair
Support and correct digestive and liver function
Bowel / liver detoxification: very useful in autoimmune disease
Stress management

Diet plan guidelines for Autoimmune disease

Follow an Autoimmune Paleo Diet (AIP)
Reduce antigenic load
The major antigens found to be linked to autoimmune diseases are gluten and casein. A gluten-free or gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet is a must, this is incorporated in the AIP diet which we commonly recommend

Supplements that support Autoimmune disease in Australia

Prebiotic/probiotic supplement: prebiotics are important to support growth of beneficial bacteria; probiotics should be strain specific e.g. L.plantarum 299V, B.lactis
B12 – major support nutrient in Autoimmune disorders
Curcumin – anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Vitamin D3 – (depending on status): needed for immune regulation
Antioxidant complex: Vitamins A, E, zinc, selenium, n-acetyl cysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10 etc
Glutamine – to repair intestinal lining

Herbal medicine treatment that supports Autoimmune disease

Immune regulation: echinacea, astragalus, reishi, shitake
Anti-inflammatory: turmeric, ginger, boswellia, licorice, bupleurum
Anti-oxidant / tissue repair: turmeric, St. Mary’s thistle, rosemary, schisandra, green tea, bilberry, gingko, gotu kola, grapeseed
Digestive / liver support: gentian, centaury, barberry, dandelion root, St Mary’s thistle
Repair gut wall: goldenseal, calendula, slippery elm

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS

The above nutritional, dietary and herbal considerations will assist in supporting someone suffering from an Auto-immune disease. Investigating and identifying underlying root causes of the disease and resolving infections, viral load, gut pathogens, nutrient imbalances, parasites etc. is vital in the treatment of the disease.

At our Perth clinic of Advanced Functional Medicine we have substantial experience in treating a wide range of autoimmune disorders. Our comprehensive approach uncovers a variety of underlying root causes and allows us to treat the body as a whole rather than just focusing on symptomatic relief as with traditional health care models.

If you or a family member are suffering from an autoimmune disorder we would love to hear from you, what AI condition are you suffering from and how have you treated it? Please write a comment below.

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Autoimmune Disease Australia