When flu season rolls around, it isn’t uncommon to see posters all around schools and grocery stores urging people to get their flu shot. In fact, statistics show that 2018’s flu season was the worst it had been since the swine flu outbreak and that the CDC labeled the 2017-2018 flu season as a “high severity season.” The flu is a prevalent issue that many public health scientists study every year because the virus mutates quickly, so new vaccines have to constantly be developed. And even then, the vaccines aren’t 100% effective. The problem with the flu is that there isn’t a cure for the disease, which is why vaccines are incredibly important. However, while these immunizations are incredibly important in preventing infection and the spread of the disease, new research shows that there may be a new way of protecting yourself against the flu through increasing fiber consumption.
Image source: Emilija Manevska
The study, published by Cell Press, shows that eating a lot of fiber may potentially protect against the flu virus. The research was conducted on mice which were given high-fiber diets, and the results showed that the mice had reduced innate immune responses and elevated adaptive immune responses, which are important for combating the flu. Innate immune responses are linked to increased inflammation, which can be damaging to the body, whereas adaptive immune responses are necessary for attacking the flu virus and preventing further infection. One researcher stated that this is unique because it is unusual for a treatment to dampen one part of our immune system while amplifying the other. Vaccines themselves are designed to target adaptive immune responses so that the body will recognize and fight off the pathogen better during repeated exposure.
While these results have not yet been tested on humans, it is still an important discovery that may lead to better prevention of the flu and encourage increased inclusion of fiber in our diets. Further research is needed to see which kinds of fiber and the amount of fiber have the greatest impact for humans. Commonly eaten foods that are high in fiber include fruits, legumes, and nuts. The researchers hope in the future to further look at the impacts of this intervention on the immune system and digestive health while also testing these results on humans.
Image source: Emilija Manevska
Featured Image Source: Day 59, Project 365 – 12.18.09 by William Brawley
