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O096 - MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AND METABOLIC STATUS, ASSOCIATIONS WITH INFECTIOUS AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES (ID 14)
Abstract
Background and Aims
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are the most common chronic inflammatory conditions characterized by the loss of self-tolerance, affecting 5-10% of the global population. Although genetic predisposition is a common risk factor for the onset of these diseases, non-hereditary factors seem to be mostly involved in their development. Metabolic complications and micronutrient deficiencies caused by dietary and lifestyle factors encompass common features of ADs, highlighting their shared pathogenetic origin.
Methods
Currently, the clinical management focuses on the treatment of chronic inflammation and reduction of disease outbreaks. However, targeting metabolic perturbations has emerged as promising approach in disease diagnosis and discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
Results
The advantage of this strategy is that it can capture subtle but significant changes that drive disease pathogenesis as metabolic pressure presents before the symptoms occur. The metabolome and the immune system are inherently related networks, considering that maintaining balanced amounts of nutrients is vital to support all the counterparts in the immune system. Metabolic imbalances leading to immune function deregulation involve insulin resistance, alterations in the gut microbiota, defective antioxidant mechanisms, as well as the reduced exposure to physiological germs, a process necessary for the immune system to mature. Biomarker discovery through metabolomics offers the potential to correct the metabolic state and replenish micronutrient deficiencies improving the clinical course in ADs cases.
Conclusions
Overall, metabolomics emerges as a valuable tool in the diagnosis and prevention of ADs onset and, in view of identifying and eliminating the factors that trigger this specific category of diseases.