Despite the almost universal clinical observation that inflammation of the gut is frequently associated with inflammation of the joints and vice versa, the nature of this relationship remains elusive. In the present review, we provide evidence for how the interaction of dietary lectins with enterocytes and lymphocytes may facilitate the translocation of both dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues, which in turn causes persistent peripheral antigenic stimulation. In genetically susceptible individuals, this antigenic stimulation may ultimately result in the expression of overt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via molecular mimicry, a process whereby foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous peptides, may cause antibodies or T-lymphocytes to cross-react with both foreign and endogenous peptides and thereby break immunological tolerance. By eliminating dietary elements, particularly lectins, which adversely influence both enterocyte and lymphocyte structure and function, it is proposed that the peripheral antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and dietary) will be reduced and thereby result in a diminution of disease symptoms in certain patients with RA.

This study was undertaken to examine relationships among blood pressure, blood lipids, and plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents (indicative of lipid peroxidation) in adult African-Americans. Subjects (n = 172, mean age = 48.0 y) were recruited from among the memberships of several Seventh-Day Adventist Churches. Plasma ascorbic acid and MDA equivalents were inversely correlated (r = -0.44, P < 0.0001). There were significant inverse correlations between plasma ascorbic acid levels and both systolic (r = -0.39, P < 0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.25, P < 0.03), and between plasma ascorbic acid and serum total cholesterol (r = -0.25, P < 0.03), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (r = -0.33, P < 0.004), and the ratio of LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) (r = -0.32, P < 0.004). Serum HDL-cholesterol was positively related to plasma ascorbic acid (r = 0.22, P < 0.05). The correlations for MDA equivalents and the blood pressure and blood lipid variables were of similar magnitude to those of plasma ascorbic acid, but were in the opposite direction. Multiple regression analysis revealed ascorbic acid to be a significant independent contributor to the prediction of blood pressure and LDL-C concentration. These data suggest that plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid and MDA equivalents are related to several cardiovascular risk indicators in black Americans.

Background: Current research provides evidence to support the theory that a diet restricting foods considered to have high antigenic potential might be beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Grains, legumes and dairy foods may have high antigenic potential and could be contributing environmental factors in genetically susceptible people. Design: Literature review. Methods: An Internet search of the National Library of Medicine and discussions with colleagues. Results: One of the largest challenges that MS researchers face today is to find treatments that have positive clinical effects and yet are non-toxic. A host of epidemiological, animal and clinical data support the theory that the manipulation of dietary factors may possess potential for a positive effect upon the progression of MS. A variety of data indicate that food proteins and lectins from dairy, gluten, and legumes found in a Neolithic and in a modern diet, can be involved in the activation and expansion of autoreactive T cells by several mechanisms. These mechanisms vary from direct activation of T cells and immune components, to indirect activation by increasing intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome), peripheral antigenic stimulation, and the propensity for molecular mimicry. In particular, a milk protein (butyrophilin) has now been identified that may be triggering MS due to cross-reactivity, or molecular mimicry, with a myelin protein. Additionally, serum vitamin D levels, which were much higher on average in our Paleolithic ancestors, are observationally correlated to a reduction in MS lesion activity and may play an important role in the treatment of MS. The administration of vitamin D to animals has resulted in complete regression of the animal model of the disease. A protein in milk (bovine serum albumin) has molecular mimicry with the vitamin D-binding protein, and may interfere with vitamin D absorption. Conclusion: It is theorized that incorporation of a diet that eliminates suspicious dietary elements may hold the potential to reduce the antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and dietary) and possibly result in a diminution of disease symptoms in certain MS patients. Also, it is proposed that addition of vitamin D to the diet warrants further study to determine its efficacy in the treatment of MS.