Gut permeability and food allergies

Monday, 29 November 2010 11:36

A recent review of the gut’s role in food allergies considers the different mechanisms responsible for altering intestinal permeability and their influence on oral tolerance to foods. The review authors speculate on the effect of increased intestinal permeability on the onset of sensitisation towards dietary antigens.

Properly balanced intestinal permeability is important for facilitating appropriate immune responses towards food antigens and the induction of oral tolerance to food allergens. In genetically predisposed individuals a breakdown of the proper regulation of the underlying complex physiological and immunologic mechanisms leads to the inadequate production of allergen–specific IgE.

Reference: Perrier & Corthésy. 2010. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03639.x