Our immune system protects us from various diseases. However, it sometimes works in revolt and attacks the body itself, leading to tissue destruction and degenerative diseases referred to as autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune disorders include multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Graves' disease, chronic thyroid, celiac disease and Crohn's disease. Autoimmune problems have a strong genetic predisposition but triggers can be excessive sunshine, infections, drugs or other conditions - such as pregnancy - that stress the body.

 Whether diet influences autoimmunity has been the subject of much unresolved debate. Interestingly, growing evidence points to a role for diet in preventing, delaying or reversing genetically determined autoimmune diseases.

As the gut is an important site of many complex interactions that control immunity, it is the major interface between an individual and his or her environment, and therefore offers the greatest exposure for building immune micro-organisms and exposure to toxins and allergens. We are what we eat. This suggests an important role for probiotics and prebiotics in autoimmunity. Scientists explored the role of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in young children to promote good bacteria and concluded that they were beneficial in the prevention of eczema. However, the effects on eczema treatment were less convincing.

Maternal diets during pregnancy and lactation also influence autoimmune processes. Breastfeeding emerges as a potentially protective factor for the prevention of allergies and coeliac disease.

In recent years, evidence has shown an important role of specific dietary factors such as vitamin D, vitamin A, selenium, zinc, omega-2 fatty acids, probiotics, glutamine (an amino acid) and flavonoids (plant chemicals that protect against disease) in autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. Associations between vitamin D and autoimmune diseases have been confirmed in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Recent studies also indicate that vitamin A is a potent immuno-regulator and may be instrumental in the prevention of intestinal inflammation and autoimmunity.

Dietary modification has shown its greatest beneficial effect when initiated before or immediately after the onset of disease. Optimal but balanced food intake maintains healthy growth and disease-free life.