Scientists have discovered details about the genetic predispositions of children who tended to fall ill suddenly and dramatically during the Covid pandemic. "The patients are sick not because of the virus," said Jean-Laurent <keyword id="5223" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="casanova" source="Orion">Casanova</keyword>, a geneticist at <keyword id="120084" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rockefeller-university" source="Orion">Rockefeller University</keyword>, US. "They're sick because they excessively respond to the virus." <keyword id="707693" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rockefeller" source="Orion">Rockefeller</keyword> scientists and affiliates of the COVID Human Genetic Effort (CHGE) described how a trio of faulty genes fail to put the brakes on the immune system's all-out assault on SARS-CoV-2, leading to the inflammatory overload characteristic of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C. Children with MIS-C, who end up in the hospital, are characterised by inflamed hearts, lungs, kidneys, and brains, spiked temperatures, skin rashes, and abdominal pain. The CHGE is an international consortium of researchers seeking the human genetic and immunological bases of all the different ways a SARS-CoV-2 infection can manifest. The study said that the findings constituted the first mechanistic explanation of any Kawasaki disease and that they were reported in a paper published in the journal Science. According to the study, in February 2020, Casanova and his collaborators in the CHGE began searching for inborn errors, or genetic mutations, of immunity among healthy people who had severe forms of COVID. Among their targets were children with MIS-C, the study said. Casanova and his team assembled an ever-growing database of hundreds of fully sequenced genomes of COVID victims from hospitals across North America, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and the Middle East, the study said. They have since made several discoveries about the genetic predispositions of individuals who develop severe COVID, the study said. For the current study, the researchers hypothesized that in some children, MIS-C could be caused by a gene defect that rendered them vulnerable to an inflammatory condition provoked by a SARS-CoV-2 infection, said Casanova. To find out, they analyzed the genomes of 558 children who had had MIS-C, the study said. Five unrelated kids from four countries - Turkey, Spain, the Philippines, and Canada - shared mutations in three closely related genes controlling the OAS-RNase L pathway, which is involved in viral response, the study said. Normally, this pathway is induced by type 1 interferons and activated by viral infection, which induce OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3 molecules. These in turn activate <keyword id="16459356" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rnase-l" source="Orion">RNase L</keyword>, an antiviral enzyme that chops up single-strand viral and cellular RNA, shutting down the cell. When a cell goes dark, the virus cannot hijack its replication machinery to spread disease. But in the five children with these mutations, the pathway failed to activate in response to the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the study said. According to the study, the cell instead sensed the viral RNA using another pathway known as MAVS, which provokes an army of dendritic cells, <keyword id="16459355" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="phagocytes" source="Orion">phagocytes</keyword>, monocytes, and macrophages to attack the viral invaders en masse. The MAVS pathway acts as a sort of accelerator of the immunological response. The OAS-RNase L pathway, on the other hand, is supposed to act as the brake. But in MIS-C, the brake fails, and the response careens out of control. "Phagocytes produce excessive levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and growth factors and interferons - you name it," said Casanova. Massive inflammation ensues. Because MIS-C is clinically and immunologically so aligned with other examples of Kawasaki disease, the researchers believe that MIS-C is a variety of the disease driven by a SARS-CoV-2 infection - the first such provocateur of Kawasaki to be pinpointed. One of the most terrifying aspects of the COVID pandemic has been its unpredictably severe impact on some children. While most infected kids have few or no symptoms, one in 10,000 fall suddenly and dramatically ill about a month after a mild infection and land in the hospital with what researchers call MIS-C. Why this reaction only takes place about a month after infection remains unknown, the study said. "We now understand the molecular and cellular basis of the disease, but we don't understand the timing," said Casanova. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/pakistan-pumps-run-out-of-petrol-disrupts-routine-life-of-people-says-a-dawn-report/articleshow/97795433.cms">Pakistan pumps run out of petrol, disrupts routine life of people says a Dawn report</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/game-of-thrones-spider-man-no-way-home-among-most-pirated-content-in-india-in-2022/articleshow/97795322.cms">Game of Thrones, Spider-Man: No Way Home among most-pirated content in India in 2022</a>

US scientists discover genetic mechanism behind some children falling extremely ill

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vitamins that help keep your <keyword id="31457" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="immune-system">immune system</keyword> strong include vitamins C, D, E, and B6</li><li>Vitamin C can kill harmful microbes like bacteria and viruses and may also ramp up your body's production of immune cells. </li><li>Your body also needs antioxidants, like vitamin E, to help fight off infections.</li><li>This article was reviewed by <a href="https://health.tamu.edu/experts/jason-mcknight.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason R. McKnight</a>, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at <a href="https://medicine.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas A&amp;M College of Medicine</a>. </li></ul>Your immune system is a complicated network made up of immune cells that fight off disease-causing bacteria and viruses. In order for your immune system to work at its best, you need to be getting the right nutrients in your diet. Essential vitamins like vitamin C and zinc can help you produce enough immune cells like antibodies and white blood cells to keep your immune system running well. Some vitamins can also kill off harmful microbes and help you get healthy again more quickly.Here are four vitamins you need to support your immune system and stay healthy.<h2>Vitamin B6 </h2>Your body needs vitamin B6 to<a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-b6-pyridoxine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> make vital immune system cells</a> that help your body fight against harmful microbes. In particular, B6 aids your body to<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/1602439" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> produce T-cells</a>, a type of immune cell that helps<a href="https://teachmephysiology.com/immune-system/cells-immune-system/t-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> kill infected cells</a> in your body and activate your immune system response.Women should aim to get around<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 1.2 mg</a> of vitamin B6 per day, while men should get 1.4 mg. You should not take more than 10 mg of vitamin B6 in a day unless it's part of a treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.Experts say that B6 deficiency is rare and most people should be able to get enough vitamin B6 naturally from their diet. Some good sources of vitamin B6 are: <div type="image" title="Vitamins 07" height="4193" width="5001" msid="77938820" hostid="261"></div><h2>Vitamin C</h2>"Vitamin C is essential for healthy immune function," says<a href="https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/DAdamo-Christopher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Chris D'Adamo, PhD,</a> an epidemiologist and Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.This is because vitamin C can help kill harmful microbes, including bacteria and viruses like<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the common cold and pneumonia</a>. Vitamin C also increases your body's production of <a href="https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C#reference11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vital immune cells</a>, including white blood cells and phagocytes, which are cells that kill bacteria by absorbing them.Studies show that taking high doses – 6 to 8 g per day – of vitamin C can help shorten the number of days a cold lasts. Taking vitamin C after a cold has started can also <a href="https://www.insider.com/does-vitamin-c-help-with-colds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make your symptoms less severe</a>.Vitamin C also helps<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> maintain the barrier</a> between your intestines and the rest of your body, making sure bacteria from your gut can't escape and make you sick.Adults should aim to get between 65 and 90 mg of vitamin C per day, and you shouldn't take more than 2,000 mg per day. You need to eat foods with vitamin C every day, as your body<a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-vitamins-best-boosting-immunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cannot store vitamin C</a> or produce it on its own. Some vitamin C-rich foods include: <div type="image" title="Vitamins 05" height="3718" width="5001" msid="77938829" hostid="261"></div><h2>Vitamin D</h2>According to the 2012 National <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> and Nutrition Examination Survey, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6075634/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">40% of adults</a> in the US are vitamin D deficient. This is a serious concern because studies show that people with<a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-vitamin-d-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> vitamin D deficiency</a> are more likely to get respiratory infections like <a href="https://www.insider.com/is-pneumonia-contagious" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pneumonia</a> or bronchitis.This is partly because vitamin D<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879394/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> increases your number of macrophages</a>, which are immune cells that help kill off invading disease cells, D'Adamo says. Vitamin D can also help balance out your immune system by reducing the production of chemicals called inflammatory cytokines, which can make your symptoms worse when too many are produced, D'Adamo says.You should be getting about 400–800 IU of vitamin D per day. Some <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-foods-have-vitamin-d">good sources of vitamin D</a> are:<div type="image" title="Vitamins 06" height="3171" width="5001" msid="77938839" hostid="261"></div>Your body produces much of your vitamin D when<a href="https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/vitamin-d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> your skin is exposed to UV rays</a>, so if you live in an area with little sunlight, you may want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement. If you decide to take a vitamin D supplement, you should aim for between 600 and 800 IU per day and never go<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/taking-too-much-vitamin-d-can-cloud-its-benefits-and-create-health-risks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> above 4,000 IU</a> unless directed by your doctor. Read more about <a href="https://www.insider.com/can-you-take-too-much-vitamin-d">vitamin D toxicity</a>.<h2>Vitamin E</h2> <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-vitamin-e-good-fo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin E</a> has <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antioxidant properties</a>, which can help your body fight off infections. Antioxidants are substances that help defend your cells against toxic free radical molecules, which can raise your risk of <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-heart-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heart disease</a>, cancer, and other illnesses.The amount of vitamin E recommended for adults is<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 15 mg per day</a>. Some good sources of vitamin E are:<div type="image" title="Vitamin Echarts 04" height="3718" width="5001" msid="77938844" hostid="261"></div>Most of us<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> should get enough vitamin E</a> from a balanced diet, and experts say that your body may get more antioxidant benefits from vitamin E-rich foods rather than supplements.If you take a vitamin E supplement, make sure not to take more than the recommended daily amount, as it can worsen conditions like heart disease.<h2>The Bottom Line</h2>Eating healthy and getting the proper vitamins in your diet can help support your immune system, but this is only one part of the picture. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and minimizing stress are also key to immune health, D'Adamo says. Taking vitamin supplements may be helpful to ward off illness and help you heal more quickly, but always consult with your doctor first to make sure they are right for your body.<h2>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to boost your immune system through diet and lifestyle changes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/herbs-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4 herbs that may help boost your immune system naturally</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-foods-have-vitamin-d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 healthy foods rich in vitamin D and easy ways to incorporate them into your diet</a></li></ul>

4 vitamins that boost your immune system and how to get enough in your diet

<a href="https://www.insider.com/herbs-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="31457" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="immune-system">immune system</keyword> is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that fight off infection. </li><li>Your immune system can be affected by sleep, nutrition, hormones, and exercise.</li><li>You can help improve your immune system, but some people are chronically immunocompromised. </li></ul>Your <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=all-about-the-immune-system-90-P01665" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune system</a> protects your body against invaders like harmful <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-kill-germs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">germs, including</a> viruses, bacteria, and fungi, and toxins from harmful chemicals. This system comprises a large network of cells, molecules, tissues, and organs that work together via several biological processes to identify and neutralize threats. Some of the major components of your immune system include your skin, tonsils, spleen, bone marrow, white blood cells, and lymph nodes. Several <a href="https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2017/04/boost-your-immunity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">factors</a>, including sleep, nutrition, stress, hormones, and exercise, can affect your <keyword id="48619" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Immunity">immunity</keyword> for better or for worse. Certain <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> conditions, medical treatments, and factors like age, pregnancy, and smoking can also <a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/may/what-it-means-to-be-immunocompromised" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affect your immunity</a>.Here's what you need to know about your <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune system</a> and how it functions. <h2>Your immune system, explained</h2>The immune system is your body's internal defense system. According to the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21196-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland Clinic</a>, your immune system primarily does two things:<ol><li>It protects you against germs and tries to keep you from getting sick.</li><li>If you do get sick, it fights the infection to help you recover. </li></ol>These are some of the major <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21196-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">components of your immune system</a>:<ul><li>Skin: Your skin is the first line of defense against germs or toxins. It acts like a barrier that prevents germs from entering your body. It also secretes fluids and other substances that destroy germs.</li><li>Mucous membranes: Your respiratory, reproductive, urinary, and digestive tracts are lined with mucus, which traps germs and expels them. For example, when you have a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/colds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cold</a>, your body produces mucus to flush germs out of your nose, sinuses, and airways.</li><li>White blood cells: These cells are a key part of your immune system. They locate, identify, and attack germs. There are several types of white blood cells; each one has a specific role to play in your immune response. </li><li>Lymph nodes: These are small glands located all over your body, including in your armpit, neck, and groin regions. They are part of your lymphatic system, which filters out germs via a clear, watery fluid known as lymph. This process can help prevent germs from reaching other parts of your body.</li><li>Spleen: Your spleen produces, stores, and dispatches white blood cells. For instance, if your body detects germs in your bloodstream, your <a href="https://www.chp.edu/our-services/transplant/liver/education/organs/spleen-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spleen</a> and lymph nodes manufacture and dispatch thousands of white blood cells to fight them.</li><li>Tonsils: Located in your throat, your tonsils trap harmful germs as soon as they enter your body, fighting them to prevent respiratory infections like <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6145787/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">influenza (flu) and pneumonia</a>. </li><li>Bone marrow: Your bone marrow produces several different types of immune cells, including white blood cells. Millions of new blood cells are produced in your bone marrow and added to your bloodstream every day.</li><li>Thymus: Located behind your breastbone, this small organ produces white blood cells that catalogue germs and remember them in future, so that it's easier for your body to fight those germs if they attack you again.</li></ul><h2>How does your immune system fight infection?</h2>If germs get past your defenses, your body launches an immune response to fight them. This involves several <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/immune.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">types of white blood cells</a>: <ul><li>B lymphocytes: These cells produce antibodies, which are special proteins designed to identify and weaken specific germs.</li><li>T lymphocytes: These cells attack the germs identified by the antibodies. They also release <a href="https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/cytokines.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cytokines</a>, which are small proteins that orchestrate your entire immune response by controlling the growth and activity of all your blood cells and immune cells.</li><li>Phagocytes: These cells engulf germs and destroy them.</li></ul>Once your body has dealt with a certain invader, it <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/immunesystemanddisorders.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remembers</a> it. If the same germ attacks you again, your body recognizes it and sends out the appropriate antibodies to fight it. This can help prevent reinfection. This ability to protect against a certain illness is known as "immunity." "The generation of long-lasting protective memory is one of the most unique and important characteristics of the immune system. Memory is essential in allowing individuals to defend themselves from infections to which they have previously been exposed," says <a href="https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/191917" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tulip Jhaveri</a>, MD, who specializes in pathology and infectious diseases. Vaccines help the body develop immunity to germs and infections. This is called immunization and it counts on your <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000821.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune system's memory</a>. Though different vaccines take different approaches to the immunization process, they all trigger your immune response to fight off a particular kind of illness (like measles, smallpox, etc.). After you receive a vaccine, your body remembers how to fight that particular germ and generates a <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-herd-immunity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long-lasting immune response</a>. Certain vaccines require a booster shot, which jogs your immune system's memory. <h2>How do you check your immune system? <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/primary-immunodeficiency/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376910"></a></h2><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/primary-immunodeficiency/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376910" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blood tests</a> that measure your levels of blood cells, immune system cells, and immunoglobulins (infection-fighting proteins) can help determine whether your <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-causes-a-weak-immune-system#:~:text=Signs%20you%20have%20a%20weakened,isn't%20doing%20its%20job." target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune system is healthy or not. </a>Jhaveri says that recurring illnesses could indicate that one's immune system isn't functioning as it should. Some <a href="https://www.insider.com/low-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signs of a weakened immune system</a> include:<ul><li>Frequent or prolonged colds</li><li>Recurring gastrointestinal problems like gas, constipation, or diarrhea</li><li>Slow healing of wounds</li><li>Frequent infections, like pneumonia, ear infections, or sinusitis</li><li>Persistent fatigue</li><li>High stress levels</li></ul>Certain factors and health conditions can compromise your immunity and affect your body's ability to fight diseases. These include:<ul><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903738/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV and AIDS</a>, which damage immune cells, making your body vulnerable to other infections</li><li><a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/may/what-it-means-to-be-immunocompromised" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asthma</a>, which causes your immune system to severely overreact to harmless substances </li><li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11111455/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leukemia and lymphoma</a>, which affect the normal functioning of your lymphocytes (white blood cells)</li><li><a href="https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/infections/why-people-with-cancer-are-at-risk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cancer treatments</a>, like radiation and chemotherapy, which can also damage and destroy immune cells in the process of destroying cancer cells</li><li><a href="https://www.mskcc.org/news/helping-body-recover-after-bone-marrow-transplant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bone marrow</a> or organ transplants, which necessitate deliberately weakening the patient's immune system so it doesn't reject the donated cells </li><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/50th-anniversary/pdfs/fs_smoking_overall_health_508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smoking</a>, which harms your immune system and raises your chances of developing an illness</li></ul> Age also plays a role in immunity. As you get older, your immune system is more susceptible to infections, diseases, and cancers; this is referred to as "<a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-tips-make-immune-system-stronger-age/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune senescence</a>." Infants and young children are also <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=kids-health-concerns-ease-with-age-1-970" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more prone to infections</a>; their immunity develops over time as they encounter germs and their body learns how to fight them. "Even pregnancy is a state of compromised immunity to a certain extent," says Jhaveri.Medical term: "<a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-immunocompromised-mean">Immunocompromised</a>" or "compromised immune system" are terms used to describe someone whose immune system is permanently damaged either due to an acquired, chronic disease, or due to an inherited immune system disorder. Sometimes, the immune system is unable to differentiate between harmful substances and healthy tissues, causing it to attack and destroy healthy cells, which is known as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000816.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autoimmune disorder</a>. There are over 80 types of autoimmune disorders - some of the more common ones include Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease.<h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>Your immune system consists of several components working together to fight off infection-causing germs. One of the most remarkable characteristics of the immune system is that it is able to remember how to defeat germs it has encountered before; a process by which you develop immunity to that illness. Vaccination, also known as immunization, relies on your immune system's memory to help build immunity against harmful germs that cause illnesses. Certain health conditions and medical treatments, as well as factors like age, smoking, and pregnancy can compromise your immune system and its ability to function. Frequent illnesses and chronic fatigue are some of the signs of a weakened system. Blood tests can help determine whether your immune system is functioning as it should.Important: Popular discourse offers plenty of theories about boosting immunity, some true, some false, and some unsubstantiated. For instance, multivitamins are believed to boost immunity; however Jhaveri says they <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-supplements-help-boost-your-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't really help</a> as much as was once believed. Jhaveri says your best chance at boosting your immune system is to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, stop smoking, limit your alcohol consumption, and reduce stress.<h2>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/foods-that-boost-your-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 foods that boost your immune system and can help keep you healthy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/when-to-go-to-hospital-for-fever" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A fever is rarely a reason to go to the hospital - here's what to do if you or your child has a fever</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-immunocompromised-mean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What it means to be immunocompromised and the conditions that put you at risk of infection</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to boost your immune system through diet and lifestyle changes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/herbs-to-boost-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4 herbs that may help boost your immune system naturally</a></li></ul>

What is the immune system? A guide to your body's first-line of defense against infection

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There is no scientific evidence to suggest that consuming too much <keyword id="31653" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> will directly weaken your <keyword id="31457" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="immune-system">immune system</keyword>.</li><li>However, sugary foods and beverages contain a lot of calories and too many calories may adversely affect immune function.</li><li>Processed foods high in sugar often lack fiber, which is important for maintaining a healthy microbiome, which also plays a key role in immune function.</li><li>While eating too much sugar might not directly affect your immune system, it could indirectly weaken immune function if you're consuming too many calories from processed foods and beverages.</li><li>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board">medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://www.columbiadoctors.org/david-s-seres-md">David S. Seres</a>, MD, Director of Medical Nutrition and Associate Professor of Medicine, <a href="https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Irving Medical Center</a>.</li></ul>Too much sugar is linked to a number of adverse <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> effects including <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/obesity-sugar-and-heart-health">obesity</a>, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355278">prediabetes</a>, and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20this%20can%20lead,pathological%20pathways%20to%20heart%20disease.">fatty liver disease</a>. However, the notion that sugar weakens the immune system is shaky, at best. And scientists say sugar's role is far more complicated.<h2>Implicating sugar </h2>The idea that sugar weakens the immune system likely arose in the early '70s, when a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/26/11/1180/4732762">study</a> was published reporting that phagocytes, a type of <a href="https://opentextbc.ca/anatomyandphysiology/chapter/18-4-leukocytes-and-platelets/">white blood cell</a> that kills bacteria and pathogens, were less active in people who had recently consumed straight sugar or sugary foods, including honey and orange juice. The measurements were taken within 5 hours of sugar consumption. However, over the last 4.5 decades, this study's results have yet to be replicated and there are no other studies proving that sugar directly impacts the immune system. In fact, the average healthy adult, will clear simple sugars from their system within two hours, says <a href="https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/mancuso-peter.html">Peter Mancuso</a>, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan. "It's only people with diabetes where [blood sugar levels] could be high enough to impair immune function. Even a liter of Coke a day would be unlikely to impair immune function," Mancuso says.<h2>Sugar, inflammation, and the immune system</h2>Sugar's role in immune suppression is more likely related to total caloric intake. "If you have an excess sugar intake you may also have an excess calorie intake, which leads to obesity," says Mancuso. "[This] is associated with a chronic state of low-grade inflammation." It is believed that chronic inflammation might overwhelm your immune system because the body is already putting up a sustained battle against the inflammation, leaving it less capable of responding to other threats. This can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-019-0675-0">impair how cells and organs function</a>, increasing the risk of a range of diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.Some research shows an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28096127/">association</a> between consumption of fructose — a component of table sugar that is extracted from sugar cane and beets — with asthma, chronic bronchitis, and arthritis. But associations should be interpreted with extreme caution as they do not prove cause and effect.To that point, Mancuso says, "studies that show associations between a certain level of sugar intake and inflammation may not account for a lack of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish, which are known to reduce inflammation." So a bad diet may play an equal role as excess sugar when it comes to chronic inflammation. And since we generally don't eat straight sugar — except for some sweetened beverages — it's difficult to differentiate the two. <h2>Sugar and the microbiome</h2>Emerging research into the healthy bacteria that support your immune system, called the <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Microbiome.pdf">microbiome</a>, is also giving hints as to how eating too much sugar, in lieu of healthier foods, might impact immunity, says <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/about/staff/cec1f12.page">Caroline Childs</a>, a lecturer in nutritional sciences in the University of Southampton in England, who researches the effect of nutrition on immune function.About <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/#:~:text=Indeed%2C%20gut%2Dassociated%20lymphoid%20tissue,bearing%20cells%5D%20reside%20in%20GALT.">70% of our immune system</a> is associated with monitoring and responding to our gut bacteria. "You grow different colonies depending on the diet you eat. These bacteria live on the waste products of our foods, and their favorite food is fiber," Childs says.Gut bacteria help convert fiber into short-chain fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects. They also help the body produce vitamins, including up to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4403557/">86% of our daily vitamin B6 requirement</a>, which plays an essential role in immune system support. Therefore, when we swap out the fiber for sugar, we fail to reap the immune-boosting benefits these microorganisms offer us. Researchers are still exploring how a healthy microbiome affects overall health, but preliminary studies so far lend credence to the notion that a healthy diet plays a key role.<h2>How much sugar is too much? </h2>The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/know-your-limit-for-added-sugars.html">recommends</a> that added sugars account for no more than 10% of your daily calories. Yet, Americans consume <a href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/special-issues/eating/sweet-stuff">roughly 15%</a> of their daily calories from added sugars, most of which come in the form of sweetened beverages and cereals. These are often referred to as "empty" calories because they don't add nutrients to your diet like essential vitamins and minerals. Processed foods often contain added sugars in large quantities. That's why it's important to look at labels for added sugars. A single serving of <a href="https://www.cheerios.com/products/honey-nut-cheerios/">Honey Nut Cheerios</a> with <a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/838888/nutrients">one cup of skim milk</a>, for example, contains 20 grams of added sugar, or 4% of a 2,000 calorie diet. Or, if you're a Starbucks fan, a grande <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/424/iced?parent=%2Fdrinks%2Ffrappuccino-blended-beverages%2Fcoffee-frappuccino">caramel frappuccino</a> contains 55 grams of sugar. That's 220 calories, or 11% of a 2,000 calorie diet — above the recommended limit.<h2>When eating sugar choose whole foods</h2>Eating more whole, unprocessed foods in place of sugary ones ensures you are consuming key nutrients and fibers. While fruit has sugars, it also contains <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319176#what-are-the-benefits-of-fiber">fiber</a>, which slows down the digestion rate, keeping blood sugar levels more stable. That's why eating dessert after a meal, one that preferably includes plenty of vegetables, might be better for your body and your teeth than a sweet alone."Fiber is nature's balance system," says <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/ian-myles-md-mph">Ian Myles</a>, an immunologist and chief medical research officer with the National Institutes of Health. When you eat an apple, for example, it contains fiber which may counteract inflammatory effects from the sugar. But if you process that apple into juice, then "you strip the fiber, and the counterbalance effect is lost," Myles says.<h2>Avoid artificial sweeteners </h2>Substituting artificial sweeteners may cut calories, but <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615743/">research</a> has actually linked them to obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It's not clear why yet, but these additives may change the way we process food, and lead us to crave real sugar. There is also <a href="https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/10/suppl_1/S31/5307224">some evidence</a> in animal studies that consuming them alters gut bacteria, with unknown health effects. It's probably better to stick with the sugar from whole foods like fruits and vegetables in small doses, Childs says: "Perhaps we need to start thinking about sugary treats as something we have more rarely than a daily occurrence. We might think of Coca Cola the way we think of champagne, as something we don't drink every day."<h2 id="related-articles-from-health-reference:">Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-sourdough-bread-healthy">Why sourdough bread is healthier than regular white or wheat bread</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/does-masturbation-help-your-immune-system">Does masturbation help your immune system? 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