The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) may combine with zinc and other plant-derived chemicals, which can have an impact on how well the intestine epithelium or lining functions. It is well recognized that AHR and zinc are necessary for maintaining a healthy gut, which has an impact on the immune system as well.
The avoidance of bowel illnesses including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has now been linked by researchers to this relationship.
The research was published in Nature Communications and involved the use of intestinal cells, mice models, and human ileum organoids, which are tiny replicas of a section of the human gut.
In this study, scientists fed a mouse model of generated inflammatory bowel disease a food high in zinc and a chemical that stimulates AHR.