Home/Blog/All/Antibodies and Gut Health
Blog
Featured Fitness Gut Health Immunity Lifestyle Nutrition Recipes Science

From DNA to fingerprints to the gut microbiome, your body is unique. Studies have found that all of these individualized systems work in your favor to keep your body healthy. The gut microbiome works hand-in-hand with your immune system and a large part of your immune response comes from antibodies. New research is showing that your antibodies are as unique as your gut microbes and fingerprints. Antibodies and Gut Health

What are antibodies?

Antibodies are a type of protein that’s created by B cells (specialized white blood cells). There are many types of antibodies and each one is used to fight off specific antigens. Antigens are any invader cell that your immune system sees as a threat to your health (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.).

Antibodies at their core are ‘Y’ shaped. The outer section differs depending on the type of antigen that has been found. Antibodies are individualized to fight off one type of antigen and they do not change to fight off a different one. They will mold themselves to fit that specific antigen and that is their job.

Once a B cell comes into contact with an antigen, it divides and clones itself to create plasma cells. The plasma cells then send out millions of antibodies (specific to the antigen the B cell came into contact with) through your blood and lymph to help fight off the infection.

The antibodies stick to antigens which notifies other immune cells that it is an infectious agent. Once the antigen is attached to and marked by antibodies, phagocytes or other immune cells will come to fight and destroy the antigen.

What types of antibodies are there, and what do they do?

Antibodies can be found all throughout your body. There is a high quantity of antibodies found in colostrum and breastmilk which is why it’s so beneficial to a baby’s health. Antibodies are also found in tears, saliva, the respiratory tract, and the digestive tract to help maintain these areas.

There are 5 major types of antibodies found in the human body. 

  • Immunoglobulin M (IgM) — used in the primary immune response to antigens and other infectious agents
  • Immunoglobulin G (IgG) — is most abundantly present in newborns because it works around and in the placenta to help protect the in-utero baby from pathogens
  • Immunoglobulin A (IgA) — is found in secretions all over the body and helps protect epithelial surfaces. IgA is found in saliva, tears, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, the genital and urinary systems, and colostrum. Most IgA-secreting plasma cells are found in mucosal tissues, specifically the gut.
  • Immunoglobulin E (IgE) — protects against parasites and has a major role in allergic reactions
  • Immunoglobulin D (IgD) — there is less known about IgD when compared to the other antibodies; however, it is thought to help with antigen-triggered lymphocyte differentiation and as a B-cell receptor (BCR)

Antibodies and Gut Health

Antibodies and gut microbes work together more than you’d realize. The amount and types of antibodies in our gut are determined by the health of the gut microbiome. A healthy, microdiverse gut means that there is also an abundance of helpful antibodies living there. 

With gut microbiomes being unique to each individual, studies show that the antibody profiles are just as unique. Specific antibodies live in the GI tract depending on what microbes are there. These antibodies and microbes work together towards bettering host (human) health. 

In the gut, antibodies are like little guards surrounding the GI tract. They help prevent the healthy gut microbes from leaving the intestinal tract so they don’t set off an immune response in the body. 

The gut microbes that are normally there get marked by antibodies so the body doesn’t attack them. The antibodies can distinguish good from bad bacteria and can mark the bad bacteria so your body knows something is wrong and sends in the immune cells. 

Antibodies help healthy microbes with gene expression. This allows the gut microbes to create other beneficial species without being attacked by the immune system. This leads to a more diverse environment and better health. 

How can I boost my antibodies?

Some people are deficient in antibodies and need to take oral supplements to boost their antibody levels. The good thing is that unlike probiotics or other supplements, antibodies taken orally can actually survive the entire digestive tract. Most things get killed off in the stomach acid, but antibodies are able to make it through safely to where our body needs them — the gut. 

Some ways you can get more antibodies are by taking supplements like colostrum, immunolin, or IgY. 

Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk mothers make when their baby is born. It is the first food a baby will eat and it provides immunoprotective abilities. Two of the most important things colostrum does are protecting the intestinal wall and providing antibodies. Colostrum is not exclusive to new human mothers; it is also produced by other mammals.

All milk-producing mammals create colostrum. You can buy powdered colostrum supplements to get antibodies to boost your levels while helping protect your GI tract. Colostrum supplements typically come from cow milk. While cow colostrum is higher in IgG and human milk is higher in IgA, it still offers the benefits you’re looking for. 

Immunolin

Immunolin is another way to get more antibodies through supplementation. It is a lactose-free option sourced from cows. Instead of cow milk, Immunolin is from serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate (SBI). This is a great alternative to colostrum for people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive. It offers the same intestinal protection and additional antibodies to boost immune function.

IgY

Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is another type of antibody. You might be wondering why we didn’t include it above and that is because it’s not a naturally occurring antibody in humans. Rather, the highest quantities of IgY are found in birds, especially chickens and their egg yolks. Although the human body doesn’t create IgY on its own, it can use it when it is exposed to it. IgY is used in the human body very similarly to IgG — the same antibody you’ll get from colostrum or Immunolin. IgY is being studied for its use orally and as a spray so it can be used to help the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and immune systems. 

These are all quick options to boost your antibody counts if you’re unable to make it on your own. However, your diet is a great way to boost your antibodies naturally! Foods that contain the following nutrients can bolster your antibody quantities easily and effectively.

While there aren’t any studies on how Atrantil affects your antibodies specifically, it contains prebiotics, postbiotics, and polyphenols that help to support the cell wall and gut microbiome. It helps reduce inflammation and boosts the healthy strains in your gut to have better gut, immune, and overall health. 

Get your Atrantil here!

Resources:

Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
0 Shares