Practitioner Protocol: The Immune-Gut Connection^

Dr. Tori Hudson, Naturopathic Physician

The immune-gut connection refers to the complex relationship between the gut (our digestive system) and the immune system. Around 70-80% of our immune cells are located in the gut, particularly in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). This makes the gut an incredibly important player in our body’s defense mechanisms.

Our gut is not just for digestion — it’s also home to a huge variety of microorganisms, like bacteria, fungi and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microbes can influence how well our immune system functions. When the balance of these microbes is off, it can impact our immune responses and overall health.

How Does the Gut Influence Immunity?

1. The gut microbiome helps train the immune system to recognize and react to harmful invaders. Healthy gut bacteria help the immune system distinguish between harmful pathogens and harmless substances, reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases, allergies and chronic inflammation.
2. The gut is lined with a layer of cells that act as a barrier to prevent harmful bacteria and toxins from entering the bloodstream. If the gut barrier becomes "leaky" (a condition known as leaky gut), it can allow harmful substances to pass through, triggering an immune response that may lead to inflammation or possible autoimmune conditions.
3. A healthy gut microbiome promotes a balanced immune response, reducing the likelihood of chronic inflammation, which is linked to many diseases. Beneficial gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), like butyrate, which are anti-inflammatory in nature. Butyrate serves as the primary energy source for colonocytes, which are the epithelial cells lining the colon. Butyrate promotes both the immune function of the mucosa and the function of the intestinal barrier.

What Can We Do to Support the Immune-Gut Connection?

Given the powerful impact the gut has on immune function, it’s important to take steps to support a healthy microbiome and, by extension, a healthy immune system. 

There are several ways to support your immune gut connection including:

• Eating a diverse, anti-inflammatory diet with mostly unprocessed foods 
• Staying hydrated 
• Managing stress levels
• Getting adequate sleep nightly 
• Getting adequate dietary fiber

GI + Biome Complex is a product created to help support the immune gut connection.^

This product promotes a healthy balance in the small and large intestine microbiome, while supporting the epithelial lining’s integrity.^ Prebiotic fibers in ButyraGen® work synergistically to promote butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut, while reducing occasional gas.^ Lipase supports butyrate’s release, Livaux® golden kiwi provides dietary fiber and PepZinGI® zinc carnosine helps rebuild mucosa. The formula also promotes healthy motility.^

Ingredient Highlights

ButyraGen® includes the active ingredients of tributyrin, which is a butyrate generator, and partially hydrolyzed fiber, which serves as a prebiotic and helps generate butyrate. Gut enzymes break down tributyrin to generate butyrate, a postbiotic.^

Lipase Thera-blend® can release butyrate throughout the entire digestive tract due to its broad activity range. Butyrate modulates mucus product and promotes thickness of layers in the cell linings of the gut.^

PepZin GI® Zinc-Carnosine is shown to support indigestion and maintain healthy mucosal integrity.^

Livaux (Organic Golden Kiwi) contains a slow-fermenting dietary fiber that reduces bloating and gas.^ It also is a natural source of vitamin C and polyphenols.

Indications

• Autoimmune disorders
• Post antibiotics
• Chronic inflammatory bowel issues 
• Intestinal permeability
• Dysbiosis
• Gut health restoration

Recommended Dosing: Usual dosing is 2 capsules per day. More capsules in divided doses can be used based on symptom/clinical picture.