Dietary fiber in the gut may help with skin allergies, says new study

Medical Xpress / Monash University / Mucosal Immunology ^ | June 7, 2022 | Aurélien Trompette et al

[ConservativeMind]

A study exploring the emerging gut-skin axis has found that microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gut can protect against allergic skin disease.

Professor Ben Marsland showed that the fermentation of fiber in the gut by bacteria and subsequent production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in particular butyrate, protected against atopic dermatitis in mice.

"Previous work has focused on the local health benefits of SCFAs in the gut as well as at distal sites such as the lung and cardiovascular system," Professor Marsland said. "We wondered if this might also extend to the skin.

The researchers fed mice a diet high in fermentable fiber or gave them purified SCFAs. "This treatment was profoundly protective against allergic skin inflammation," Professor Marsland said.

They labeled the butyrate with isotopes and tracked it in the body—it took only minutes to reach the skin where it enhanced the metabolism of keratinocytes, priming them to mature and produce the key structural components required for a healthy skin barrier.

"The upshot of this was that the skin barrier was fortified against allergens—we were using house dust mite allergens—that would normally penetrate the skin barrier, activate the immune system and start an allergic reaction in these models," he said.

"It turns out the immune system was secondary to this skin barrier function."

Actively improving the skin barrier could have protective effects against environmental exposures that cause allergies and perhaps even other skin diseases which are underpinned by a damaged or weak skin barrier. SCFAs could be administered orally or directly on the skin as a cream, he said.

"The fact that short-chain fatty acids can be given topically and are well-tolerated opens up possibilities for the development of preventative strategies or disease-modifying interventions—that represents the most significant translational potential of our research."

[ConservativeMind]

Eating resistant starch/soluble fiber creates a great opportunity for very helpful short chain fatty acids to be generated by gut bacteria, strangely benefitting skin allergies.

[ConservativeMind]

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[logi_cal869]

And a LOT more!

[metmom]

Any idea what kind of dietary fiber?

[vivenne]

I think I read somewhere that oatmeal (the real kind, not instant) is very effective.

[AppyPappy]

Is there anything fiber can’t do?

[Chickensoup]

Find me a date?

[AppyPappy]

I’m a big proponent of green fiber. Last night, I had a wedge salad with gorgonzola and tarragon buttermilk dressing. That was after the broiled Brussel sprouts appetizer. Marvelous.(Brambly Park, Richmond Va)
Raw veggies are a big thing in our house.

[AppyPappy]

Finding me a date is easy. Getting rid of the body, not so much

[Chickensoup]

That is funny!

[metmom]

I should be in great shape then.

It’s not working.

My cholesterol is fantastic, but otherwise…… pffftttt…..

FWIW, I basically live on oatmeal. It’s one of the very few things I can eat without reacting to it.

[The Westerner]

“...One possibility to explore is whether this could help children who are at risk of developing skin allergies that cascade towards food allergies and asthma, the so-called “atopic march.”

This is a fundamental change in thinking about the treatment of allergies like eczema. Really fascinating. Help the skin build a barrier to block allergic reactions to things like dust mites by eating particular foods.