Allergies and the immune system - how do allergies develop?

What different allergies are there?

There are different types of allergies, which can also be divided into different classes. The type I allergy or immediate type reaction occurs within a few seconds to hours and is usually triggered by substances (animal hair, pollen, mold spores, dust particles such as mites, medicines or food) from the environment.

However, an allergy, especially to food, is often confused with a pseudoallergy or intolerance, as the effects we perceive can be similar. Pseudoallergy is very similar to type I allergy, but differs in the reaction of the immune system: an immunological reaction involving the IgE antibodies is therefore not detectable. In pseudoallergic reactions, there is no prior sensitization. It is therefore a non-specific, allergic reaction, i.e. without a suitable antibody (IgE) against the antigen. An intolerance has no immunological background, but is often caused by an enzyme deficiency (e.g. lactose intolerance) or an absorption disorder (e.g. fructose intolerance) and is therefore a metabolic disorder.

How do I recognize an allergy?

Depending on the type of allergy, there are different symptoms that can manifest themselves. The point of contact with the antigen is often decisive in determining which symptoms develop. The differences between allergy, pseudo-allergy and intolerance are difficult to distinguish, especially for laypeople, which is why you should search for clues together with your doctor.

Allergic reaction: The problem

Before the antigen enters the body, there are a number of protective mechanisms that act as a barrier to protect us from external influences. The more intact the barrier is, the better I can protect myself from foreign substances (antigens). These barriers can be found on all surfaces such as the skin, nose, lungs, mouth and intestines. With regard to the gut in particular, research has shown that a „leaky gut“, i.e. an intestinal barrier that is too permeable, is closely linked to the development of allergies. ^{[1] [2]} The mechanism behind this is quickly clear: if my barrier is leaky, antigens can penetrate more easily and trigger a reaction from the immune system.

The most important tips against allergies: What can you do

There are various ways to combat the symptoms of an allergy.

1. avoid the allergen

Depending on the type of allergy, one important measure is to avoid the allergen. However, this risk prevention is often not so easy, as bees, house dust, animal hair or traces of shellfish can only ever be controlled to a limited extent. However, it is essential to take good risk precautions, especially in the case of severe symptoms and a tendency to anaphylactic shock.

An intact barrier depends on many factors, as it should protect us from all external influences (microorganisms, sun, cold, mechanical stimuli, etc.). There are therefore a number of stress factors that have a damaging influence. As our intestines, at over 500m, are the largest protective barrier, it is worth paying particular attention to them. You can find out exactly what you can do to strengthen your intestinal barrier in the article „Leaky Gut“.

It is often the case that an allergy worsens during stressful times. Stress increases the permeability of the intestinal barrier (intestinal permeability), which makes it easier for antigens to enter the body. ^[3]

Exclusion factors for long-term barriers *

Stress

• Psychosocial stress
• Sports-induced heat stress

Nutritional components

• Industrial sugar
• Fructose
• Salt
• Emulsifiers
• Surfactants
• Organic solvents
• Gluten (gliadin)
• Microbial transglutaminase
• Nanoparticles
• Ethanol
• Hull fruit
• Potatoes

Nutrition & nutrients

• High calorie diet
• High fat diet
• Deficiency of:
  • Vitamin A
  • Indigestible carbohydrates

Inflammatory reactions

• Bacterial and viral infection
• Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)
• Certain pathogens

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid). e.g. acetylsalicylic acid)

Hypoxia in the intestine (as a result of surgery)

* Sources: see our articles on “The leaky gut. The leaky gut syndrome“

3. immune regulation

Since our immune system is the trigger for the allergy and its symptoms, it makes the most sense to start at the root of the problem. As the immune system is a dynamic and above all learning system, it is possible to develop tolerance to the antigen. There are various options for this:

• Hyposensitization through a medically controlled, regular administration of the antigen. This can create tolerance to the immune system. This procedure usually takes three years.
• Probiotics: Current study results show that probiotics can be used as a useful addition to therapy. ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• These promote the development of regulatory T-cells, which are essential for a good immune response.balance between the various special units of the immune system and calm the Th-2 system. ^[4] It is also interesting to note that our microbiome (especially our intestinal flora) is probably also involved in the development of allergies. Microorganisms train our tolerance to foreign substances and ensure that our special units do not overreact.
• An appropriate diet: In order for our microbiome to be a support for us and not a burden, it needs the right pre-biotic food. A varied and species-appropriate diet helps to restore the internal balance of the intestinal flora. You can find out exactly how to do this in our article: Building up the intestinal flora.
• Adequate vitamin D levels can also help to reduce the chances of developing an allergy ^[7] and can also contribute to immune regulation. ^[5]