Immune Dysfunction

An impaired immune system is being implicated in the etiology of many diseases. Impairment or suppression of the immune system presents in many ways and to varying degrees. Immune dysfunction may be genetic in origin, an acquired immunodeficiency, or a depressed state of the immune system attributable to intrinsic or extrinsic factors (or a combination of both). Since immune impairment does not manifest in obvious ways, a malfunctioning or suppressed immune system may go undetected, posing a serious threat to the health.

A weakened immune response can lead to the development of many diseases, including autoimmune disorders, allergies and malignancies. The body's response to tissue damage, external pathogens and cell mutations leading to malignancy depends on what components of the immune response are impaired and to what degree.

ETIOLOGY

The immune response is impacted by a number of factors: genetics, and intrinsic/extrinsic influences. These include:

• diseases that target the immune system such as AIDS and CVID
• diseases that cause acute mobilization of immune responses, thereby impacting the body's ability to fight pathogens and halt tumour growth. These diseases include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, candidiasis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and chronic psoriasis.
• extrinsic factors including exposure to chemicals and pollutants such as pesticides and cigarette smoke, viral or bacterial infections.
• lifestyle factors such as emotional stress, sleep deprivation, athletic overtraining, and exposure to UVA radiation (sunbathing).
• nutritional factors such as excessive consumption of sugars, fats and alcohol or inadequate dietary intake of protein, calories, water, vitamins and minerals.
• use of certain immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin.
• aging

Any of these factors can cause breakdowns in immune response, leading to the development of secondary/opportunistic diseases.

DIAGNOSIS

Immune dysfunction generally presents as chronic or recurring bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections with no obvious cause. The condition may also precipitate a higher incidence of cancers, particularly lymphoma. CFS, MS, RA and viral hepatitis appear to have their origins in a compromised immune response. Recent research indicates that asthma and psoriasis are likely also associated with impaired immune function.

TREATMENT MODALITIES

Since a multitude of diseases have their origins in a malfunctioning immune response, and since these diseases themselves further weaken the immune system, an effective treatment for the immune system is proposed to benefit the body as a whole.

Immune enhancing treatments include avoidance of extrinsic factors that might compromise immune response, and assessment/modification of the lifestyle and nutritional factors that impact the immune system.

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The use of immune enhancing therapies utilizing beta-glucans and Nutricol™ is also helpful.

Use of beta-glucans to enhance immune response.
Beta-glucans are naturally occurring branched polysaccharides that are biological defense modifiers. Research has shown that beta glucans nutritionally potentiate and modulate the immune response primarily through activation of macrophages and dendritic immune cells. B lymphocytes, natural killer cells (NKCs) and suppressor T cells are also positively affected by beta-glucans.

Glucan receptors that deliver non-self derived glucan to the immune response have been identified on macrophages, NKCs and other cells of the immune system.

1-3 beta-glucans have been identified as the type of polysaccharide that modifies biological responses. (1-3 refers to the positioning of the beta bonds that link the sugars together.) These beta-glucans are traditionally available to the body via the diet but modern farming practices have significantly reduced levels of 1-3 beta-glucans in foodstuffs.

Mushrooms are a rich source of beta-glucans. Unlike plants, whose cell walls are formed from cellulose, mushroom cell walls are composed of 1-3 beta-glucans. Every mushroom-derived beta-glucan possesses a slightly different structure and each of these differing structures has a unique effect on the functioning of the immune system.

A broad spectrum of mushroom extracts - each recognized for its ability to potentiate/modulate the immune system - is present in Biomedica Laboratories' Immune Fx. Combined with Nutricol™, a patented anti-inflammatory complex, this food supplement may be taken along with traditional medications and therapies, or on its own to enhance the efficacy of the immune response.

What is Nutricol®?

Nutricol® is a disease modifying anti-catabolic agent (DMAC), which Biomedica Laboratories is proud to introduce to health professionals. Nutricol® is composed of purified polyphenolic complex containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), proanthocyanidins and resveratrol extracted from Vitis vinifera (grape) and Camellia sinensis (green tea).

Nutricol® is proposed to reduce inflammation in, and prevent damage to cell structures and the extracellular matrix.