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inflammation & autoimmunity

HLA-DOB

How Autoimmunity Genes Influence Blood Sugar (HLA)

Written by Aleksa Ristic, MS (Pharmacy) on October 14th, 2020

According to the latest findings, autoimmunity can significantly impact blood sugar levels. Read this post to check your HLA variants and get gene-based tips to balance blood sugar.

Summary

The HLA system protects us from pathogens and other threats, but they also play a central role in autoimmunity.

HLA gene variants correlate with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the primary causes of elevated blood sugar, likely due to autoimmunity and inflammation.

Follow our gene-based tips to counteract your gene variants and reduce blood sugar levels.

The HLA System in Blood Sugar Control

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system comprises human genes encoding different proteins on white blood cells. HLA proteins or antigens help flag and remove external threats that may harm the body [R].

Gene variants and malfunctions in the HLA system play a role in various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including type 1 diabetes [R, R].

Surprisingly, scientists have also associated HLA variants with type 2 diabetes, the primary cause of elevated blood glucose in adults. HLA-associated autoimmunity and inflammation may hinder insulin secretion in adults, but the research is still inconclusive [R, R, R, R].

HLA genes have been associated with countless other health conditions, including:

HLA gene variants correlate with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the primary causes of elevated blood sugar. HLA-associated autoimmunity and inflammation may hinder insulin secretion.

Your HLA Results for Blood Sugar Levels

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs2071479
rs1063355
rs2844623

Primary SNP:

HLA-DOB rs2071479 [R, R, R]:

‘T’ – associated with higher blood sugar due to type 1 and type 2 diabetes
‘C’ – not associated with blood sugar levels

Other Important SNPs:

HLA-DQB1 rs1063355 [R]:

‘G’ – associated with higher blood sugar due to type 2 diabetes
‘T’ – not associated with blood sugar levels

HLA-C rs2844623 [R]:

‘C’ – associated with higher blood sugar due to type 2 diabetes
‘T’ – not associated with blood sugar levels

Recommendations

Lifestyle

Get More Sunlight

Some research has suggested that UV light and vitamin D have beneficial effects on autoimmunity by suppressing HLA molecules [R, R, R, R].

Moderate sun exposure is the best way to get natural UV light and vitamin D, helping reduce inflammation [R, R].

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with insulin resistance, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [R, R, R, R].

Optimal sun exposure may reduce the impact of HLA variants on your blood sugar levels.

Diet

Foods Rich in Zinc

Zinc deficiency may contribute to inflammation by stimulating HLA antigens [R].

Low blood zinc levels have been associated with diabetes and prediabetes, while higher dietary intake of this mineral may be protective [R, R, R, R].

Good dietary sources of zinc include red meat, seafood, dairy products, nuts, legumes, and whole grains [R].

Dietary zinc may help balance blood sugar by targeting HLA variants.

Supplements

Zinc

If you can’t get enough zinc from a balanced diet, consider taking a supplement.

Several meta-analyses have found that zinc supplementation may reduce blood glucose, HBA1c, and insulin resistance in people with obesity, diabetes (type 1 and 2), and metabolic syndrome [R, R, R].

Probiotics

Probiotics have well-known beneficial effects on inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In one clinical trial, probiotic supplementation reduced the activity of HLA genes [R, R].

Supplementation with probiotics improved blood glucose control in people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes in multiple trials. Moreover, they lowered blood pressure, reduced oxidative stress, and improved blood lipids. Potentially beneficial strains include [R, R, R, R, R, R, R]:

A meta-analysis of 11 studies found supplementation with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics to improve blood sugar control, lipid profiles, inflammation, and oxidative stress in pregnant women with gestational diabetes [R].

Probiotic supplementation may counteract your gene variants and reduce blood sugar levels.

Aleksa Ristic

MS (Pharmacy)

Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.

Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions—writing and health—and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More inflammation & autoimmunity blogs

How to Combat Histamine Intolerance Through Genetics (DAO) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to High Brain Histamine, Migraines, or ADHD? (HNMT) How to Tell if You’re Lectin Sensitive Using Your Genetic Data (CNR1) Are You Sensitive to Lectins? (MTHFR) Fight Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Brain Fog (PARP1) Is This Gene Causing Your Autoimmune Problems? (PTPN22) Are You Genetically Susceptible to Post-Treatment Lyme? (ABCB1) A Key Genetic Player in Autoimmunity (HLA-B) Is This Inflammation Gene Reducing Your Intelligence? (TNFSF9) Can You Manage Allergies and Asthma by Balancing Methylation? (MTHFR)

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How Autoimmunity Genes Influence Blood Sugar (HLA)

Summary

The HLA System in Blood Sugar Control

Your HLA Results for Blood Sugar Levels

SNP Table

Recommendations

Lifestyle

Get More Sunlight

Diet

Foods Rich in Zinc

Supplements

Zinc

Probiotics

Disclaimer

More inflammation & autoimmunity blogs

Content

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Essential Bundle

Essential

Bundle

Ultimate Bundle

Limited Time Offer 25% Off

Policies

About

Navigation

Health reports