High Salt Intake Exacerbates Food Allergy Symptoms by Impairing Intestinal Barrier Function and Activating Mucosal...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Dietary salt influences T helper cell differentiation and function.
• The specific impact of salt on food allergies and its mechanisms are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how high salt intake affects allergic responses.
• To examine the effects of salt on immune function and intestinal barrier integrity in a food allergy mouse model.

Main Methods:

• BALB/c mice were fed normal or high-salt diets and sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA).
• Anaphylaxis severity, antibody responses, serum zonulin, jejunal histology, and mMCP-1 were assessed.
• Groups included non-sensitized/normal diet, non-sensitized/salt diet, sensitized/normal diet, and sensitized/salt diet.

Main Results:

• High salt intake exacerbated anaphylaxis, indicated by reduced rectal temperature in sensitized mice.
• Elevated serum zonulin levels and jejunal villus damage were observed in sensitized mice on a high-salt diet.
• Ovalbumin-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a levels were not significantly affected by high salt intake, but serum mMCP-1 was higher in sensitized mice on a high-salt diet.

Conclusions:

• High salt intake may exacerbate food allergy symptoms.
• Disruption of intestinal barrier function and enhanced mast cell activation are potential mechanisms.
• Findings suggest a link between high salt consumption and increased food allergy severity.