Sarcidosis is a disease characterized by granulomas, which are collections of immune cells

caused by chronic inflammation that can form in our lungs, lymph nodes, on our skin, and in other parts of our body.

The occurrence of sarcoidosis varies greatly around the world, from

fairly low levels in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, to up to 100 times higher

levels in Sweden and Canada. Race also seems to matter, with black populations experiencing

much higher rates of disease and higher rates of death at younger ages.

It's possible black people may be at greater risk of disease and disease severity,

but there are also longstanding systemic health and social inequities that limit access to quality care.

The routine way to treat sarcoidosis is with immune-suppressing corticosteroid drugs to manage the inflammation.

Thugs come with their own limitations, though, including steroid resistance, no response to the medications, and a long list of potential side effects. Could nutrition help in sarcoidosis treatment?

Possibly. Certain components in food may have anti-inflammatory effects in lung diseases. So maybe sarcoidosis patients should be encouraged to eat antioxidant and polyphenol-rich diets,

but there have yet to be interventional trials to put it to the test.

Are there any steps we can take to potentially avoid this disease?

Its cause is unknown.

Sarcoidosis can cluster in families, but maybe that's just because of a shared household

environment.

Although some gene variants may increase susceptibility, genes alone are insufficient

to cause sarcoidosis.

Something is driving the disease process.

Something is driving the inflammation. We may be closer to solving one part of

the mystery of sarcoidosis. Recent advances in molecular and immunological methods have produced

a more rigorous look at the drivers of the disease, indicating that mycobacteria are likely

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