Fast Food Fever: Reviewing the Impact of the Western Diet on Immunity

A review article appearing in Nutrition Journal analyzes the potential impact of the Western diet on the immune system. NIAID scientist Ian Myles, M.D., describes findings from animal and human studies suggesting that modern dietary choices may contribute to more inflammation, poor control of infections, and a higher risk of allergic and autoinflammatory diseases. He also explains how dietary choices can alter DNA and the composition of the microbiome—the community of “good” bacteria that naturally colonize the gut. These changes enable the potentially harmful effects of diet to be passed from parent to child.

Read more about how the Western diet may influence the immune system.