Autoimmune diseases occur more in women than in men, and this may be attributable to the
role of estrogens. Androgens promote autoimmune diseases with a profile of type 1
cytokines, such as rheumatoid arthritis, whereas estrogens promote autoimmune diseases
with a type 2 cytokine profile, like systemic lupus erythematosus. Both androgens and
estrogens regulate the Th1/Th2 balance. Type 1 autoimmune diseases are improved when
decrease type 1 cytokines (ie during fasting), or when there is a rise in type 2 cytokines …