Auto Immunity Uncovered Part 1 - Colitis

Taking back control

I was first diagnosed with colitis 31 years ago, at the age of sixteen.

I spent six weeks in hospital undergoing examinations, and the doctors told me that, statistically, I now had a one in five chance of developing bowel cancer. Honestly… I was shitting myself.

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What is Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the lining of the colon, mistaking it for a foreign body. This causes chronic inflammation and damage to the gut lining.

Why Does This Happen?

It’s no coincidence that ulcerative colitis sufferers are twice as likely to carry a variation of a gene called HLA-DRB1*15. This gene is ancient—between 50,000 and 100,000 years old.

Around 10,000 years ago, humans began eating grains, and wheat farming started in the Middle East, spreading globally over the millennia. By 5,000 years ago, wheat consumption was widespread in Europe.

Evolution takes time, but populations can develop polymorphisms, small genetic changes that reduce the prevalence of certain gene variants. In this case, populations with fewer HLA-DRB115 variants were likely healthier and more fertile, allowing them to flourish.

Today, HLA-DRB115 is much more prevalent in Europe than the Middle East, and the prevalence of colitis in the population is over three times higher.

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How Wheat Can Damage Your Gut

Wheat contains a protein called gliadin, which is difficult to digest. Gliadin can sit on the gut lining and trigger an increase in zonulin, a protein that regulates gut permeability. Increased zonulin leads to a “leaky gut,” allowing bacteria and proteins to cross the gut lining. In people with HLA-DRB1*15, the immune system may mistake gut bacteria for colon tissue, attacking the colon in a process called molecular mimicry, you can read more about that here:

The cascade looks like this:

1. Gliadin in the diet
   ↓

2. Leaky gut
   ↓

3. HLA-DRB1*15 presents gliadin
   ↓

4. Immune attack on colon
   ↓

5. Ulcerative colitis

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Glyphosate and Wheat

If wheat alone weren’t enough, commercial farming practices often worsen the problem. Glyphosate is sprayed on wheat to aid ripening before harvest. Glyphosate is considered carcinogenic, disrupts gut bacteria, increases gut permeability, and has been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and colitis.

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Medications and Side Effects

Medications like prednisone and mesalazine help control inflammation but come with side effects. Prednisone can cause immune suppression, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and skin thinning. Mesalazine can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, skin rashes, hair loss, and joint pain. While these treatments can help manage symptoms, they don’t necessarily promote gut healing and can lead to long term adverse outcomes.

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Supporting Gut Healing

Diet/Supplementation

Gut health can be supported naturally through dietary and lifestyle measures. Glutamine supports gut lining repair, and probiotics help restore beneficial gut bacteria.

Removing wheat, bread, pasta, and pizza from your diet and choosing gluten-free alternatives can help. Alcohol should be reduced, beer should be removed completely and replaced with gluten-free options.

I switched to gluten free beers and they taste pretty good, just don’t over do it as they may have traces of gluten/gliadin and are usually on the strong side :)

We make sweet potato rostis which make great buns for when you get that burger craving and use almond flour for desserts.

Testing

Testing for zonulin, which measures gut permeability, and HLA markers, which show whether you carry HLA-DRB1*15, can also help guide your approach.

I hope this first part of Auto Immunity Uncovered sheds some light on colitis. Share your thoughts or questions below—I’ll always do my best to respond

Nick