Herbal Health

Antibodies are Y-shaped molecules, as the picture opposite shows. At the tip of each arm is an antigen-binding site where the antibody can bind to the particular feature of the antigen that it recognizes. These antigen-binding sites are the most changeable part of the antibody molecule – they vary enormously from one antibody to another. Their chemical structure determines which antigen is bound by that antibody.

The stem of an antibody can also vary, although nothing like as much. There are five basic types of stem, and they produce five different types of antibody, known as isotypes. The names of these isotypes (in order of abundance) are: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE. In all cases the letters ‘Ig’ stand for immunoglobulin – another name for antibody. Imbalances between the different isotypes of antibody may play a role in food intolerance,

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