Your body is able to fight infections due to the presence of antibodies. These antibodies are also a part of your innate immune system. Your body’s first line of defense is an antibody found in your tears, saliva, mucus, and mother’s milk. This antibody is SIgA, Secretory Immunoglobulin A, that traps foreign bacteria before they can enter your body and cause infections. Now, let's explore the connection across SIgA, stress, and gut health.
SIgA from your saliva tends to make its way into your gut. The amount of SIgA produced largely depends on the presence of antigens in your gut. The more antigens that are present, then the higher your SIgA production.
SIgA identifies two types of antigens. The first type are enteric pathogens that secrete toxins and cause infections. The second type is commensal microflora or ‘good’ bacteria, for example probiotics.
Studies show that SIgA coats up to 75 percent of your intestinal bacteria. Therefore, if you have a low level, probiotic supplementation may help raise them. Studies also show that SIgA can help get rid of ‘bad’ microbes and shape ‘good’ microbes. So, antigen plays an important role in gut health. Your body’s SIgA production also tends to decline with age.
The SIgA antibody is your first line of defense and protects you against bacterial, parasitic, fungal, viral, and toxin invasions. This antibody prevents these 'invaders' from binding to the surface of any receptive cells. It does this by attaching to these foreign bodies and trapping them in mucus.
Food intolerances or allergies may arise from a low SIgA level. Intestinal permeability also impacts these food allergies. Yet, intestinal permeability, also called leaky gut, often occurs when there's a low SIgA level.
A low SIgA level results from chronic stress, gut dysbiosis, and a compromised immune system.
Various studies show a marked correlation between stress, cortisol production, and the level of SIgA.
Stress of any kind results in higher production of the stress hormone, cortisol. This hormone is mainly produced in the adrenal glands in response to signals from the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Your SIgA level also tends to diminish with higher cortisol production.
Chronic stress often leads to inflammation. When coupled with a lower SIgA level, gut dysbiosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also occur.
Most inflammatory conditions start in your gastrointestinal tract. A compromised immune system means lower antigens like SIgA, which compromises your gut health. Permeability may increase, which will allow unwanted substances to pass through into your bloodstream. This then results in allergies and certain inflammatory conditions. Poor gut health also affects your brain and may lead to depression and other neurological conditions.
Once the issue becomes systemic, your entire body suffers as your digestive system is compromised. Your failing digestive system may result in a shortage of vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients.
Your immune system helps you to fight toxins and infections. This immune system includes your bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, and white blood cells.
When your body is subject to foreign substances, your immune system activates and makes antibodies that render them harmless. But, these antibodies stay in your system. This is why you may become immune to certain illnesses (like chicken pox).
Inflammation is a part of your body’s immune response. Symptoms associated with inflammation include redness, fever, and swelling in the affected area.
Unfortunately, your gut microbiome and immune system are linked. Gut dysbiosis negatively impacts your immune response. A compromised immune response means increased inflammation resulting in higher cortisol and lower SIgA levels.
A high SIgA level is commonly associated with allergies, autoimmune disorders, some cancer types, liver conditions, and chronic infections. The two main reasons for its occurrence are food sensitivities and a response to getting rid of gut pathogens.
People with food sensitivities may have a delayed immune reaction. However, these reactions may last longer than that of a typical food allergy.
Your body will increasingly produce more SIgA to deal with the food intolerance. This may then result in a higher-than-normal level.
Some typical symptoms of a high SIgA level due to food sensitivities include:
Please note that many of the above issues may also be found in people with adrenal fatigue.
Your SIgA production may greatly increase during your initial response to foreign pathogens in your GI tract. This is your body’s natural way of ridding itself of harmful substances. But, the stress caused by these pathogens may result in higher cortisol production that staves off this response.
The latter stages of adrenal fatigue means a sharp decline in cortisol production. This results in gastrointestinal infections, gut flora imbalance, and chronic immune system malfunction. This malfunction means your immune system mistakenly attacks normal cells instead of only targeting foreign pathogens.
Your SIgA and blood IgA levels may not be correlated. One of the two may be normal, while the other is higher, or lower than normal.
SIgA levels are measured by taking either saliva, urine or fecal samples. Saliva testing is more common and provides you with a systemic overview of your body’s circulating SIgA.
However, it is important to note that your SIgA levels may vary as you age. Men are also more prone to have lower levels than women.
The objective is to ensure balanced SIgA levels. However, stress plays a huge role in either elevating or reducing your levels.
This requires addressing your stressors, whether they are psychological, physical, or environmental in nature. Ensuring proper adrenal support should also be high on the agenda.
For low levels, one could consider:
In the case of high levels, you could consider:
Many health issues start in the gastrointestinal tract. Compromised gut health due to stress then activates your immune system. This leads to the formation of antibodies like SIgA. This allows your immune system to fight threats to your health.
However, there can be imbalances in the SIgA level arising from fluctuations in cortisol production. This may give rise to illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is possible to deal with low or high SIgA levels through key measures.
You can visit our blog to learn more about the importance of gut health and how it affects your immune system.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
SIgA definitely plays a role in improving your immune function. This antigen has the ability to bind to certain pathogens, thereby preventing them from making you sick. But sometimes, things can go wrong with your body producing either too little or too much SIgA.
