Nutritionally Support Immune and Inflammatory Responses

Nutritionally Support Immune and Inflammatory Responses

By Larry Newman
Chief Operating Officer
Kirkman Group. Inc.

Inflammatory response is defined in medical terms as a fundamental type of response by the body to disease, injury, insect bite, antigen or environmental stimulus. Inflammation is one of the first responses of the immune system, so supporting the immune system’s healthy balance may also help to regulate inflammatory responses in the body. Genetics can also play a role in inflammatory response, which can be characterized by pain, heat, redness, rash, infection, swelling, respiratory involvement, itching or loss of tissue functionality. A poor diet can also lead to inflammation, according to the 2006 study Drs. Giugliano, Ceriello and Esposito published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Junk foods containing sugar, bad fats, and carbohydrates are inflammation causing, while fruits, vegetables, and fish are anti-inflammatory in nature, they reported.

Managing Inflammatory Response
The treatment of inflammatory response depends on the severity of the symptoms involved and how uncomfortable the patient may be. In severe cases, prescription pharmaceuticals are required to counteract the causative antigen. WebMD explains that in less severe or chronic types of inflammation, certain dietary supplements may be used to control the inflammation.

The most commonly used anti-inflammatory supplements that have significant clinical value in controlling inflammation are the Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA from fish oils. Supplements containing these Omega-3s are effective as are foods rich in Omega-3s such as salmon and halibut, reported a team of doctors who published in Nutritional Research in 2009. Evelyn Tribole, dietitian counselor and author, explains that it is important to use only supplements rich in Omega-3s to control inflammation, because Omega-6 oils such as evening primrose or borage oils can actually cause more inflammation, as can saturated fats in unhealthy foods.

There are other dietary supplements that can improve inflammatory response. Probiotics may be of benefit since they replace harmful bacteria, which can cause inflammation, according to a 2012 article in Nature Reviews. Any of Kirkman’s multi-strain products such as Pro-Bio Gold™ or Multi-Flora Spectrum™ may help to balance intestinal flora.

The spice turmeric with its active component curcumin is also anti-inflammatory, as cited in the study by JS Jurenka in Alternative Medicine Review, as is the bioflavonoid Quercetin. The University of Maryland Medical Center also reports that certain herbs are also anti-inflammatory, including Ginger, Slippery Elm, Cat’s Claw and Marshmallow.

Kirkman’sGastromune AI Support is a combination of these herbs and spices possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Though originally formulated for gastrointestinal inflammation, this formula assists other inflammatory responses as well.

Colostrum, or mother’s milk from cows and other mammals, is another supplement possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Colostrum protects newborn calves from inflammatory responses to their environment and it has been shown to be immune specific to many human pathogens that cause infections.For more information about Colostrum’s benefits, please refer to colostrumresearch.org. Kirkman® carries both flavored and unflavored casein free colostrums.

The National Institutes of Health found that pineapple fruit contains significant amounts of bromelain, an enzyme, which decreases inflammation. Systemic or digestive enzyme products containing bromelain also possess this anti-inflammatory property.

Kirkman® Enzym-Complete products (I and II) meet this criterion, while fruit free enzyme products do not.

Further Reading
Buckley CD, Gilroy DW, Serhan CN, Stockinger B, Tak PP. 2012. The resolution of
inflammation.Nature Reviews Immunology 13(1): 59-66.
Chattipakorn N, Settakorn J, Petsophonsakul P. 2009. Cardiac mortality is associated with low levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the heart of cadavers with a history of coronary heart disease. Nutritional Research 29(10): 696-704.
Tribole, Evelyn. 2007. The ultimate omega-3 diet: maximize the power of omega-3s to
super-charge your health, battle inflammation, and keep your mind sharp. New
York: McGraw Hill.
Jurenka JS. 2009. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: A review of preclinical and clinical research. Alternative Medicine Review 14(2): 141-53.