Abstracts
Probiotics Reduce Hepatic Encephalopathy Risk by 50%
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At the International Liver Congress 2013: 48th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). An abstract was presented exploring the role of probiotics in the reduction of risk for development of hepatic encephalopathy Abstract 78. Presented April 26, 2013.
Fishy No Longer: Fish Oil Can ‘Boost’ The Immune System
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Fish oil rich in DHA and EPA is widely believed to help prevent disease by reducing inflammation, but until now, scientists were not entirely sure about its immune enhancing effects. A new report appearing in the April 2013 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology,[1] helps provide clarity on this by showing that DHA-rich fish oil enhances B cell activity, a white blood cell, challenging the notion that fish oil is only immunosuppressive. This discovery is important as it shows that fish oil does not necessarily reduce the overall immune response to lower inflammation, possibly opening the doors for the use of fish oil among those with compromised immune systems.
Avoiding Gluten Hastens Weight Loss
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But…. it also appears to offer far more than simply compressing overall body mass. For some time the world of gluten sensitivity as well as the pathology coeliac disease have been experiencing a substantial amount of increased scientific and lay interest. The long held critique that most Nutritional Therapist suggest avoiding gluten in the absence of CD is a needless and just a fallacious recommendation has come under increasing credibility attack.
Male Bacteria Oppose Diabetes
This editorial piece has largely been provided by Olive Leavy – editor of Nature Reviews Immunology.[1]
Although numerous gene polymorphisms associated with autoimmune disease risk have been identified, additional factors — including environmental factors and sexual dimorphism (with a higher incidence of autoimmunity in females) — are also thought to have important roles in driving disease.
Reporting in Science, Markle et al.[2] now describe a causal link between differences in male and female microbiota, sex hormone levels and autoimmune disease development in genetically susceptible mice.
The scientists utilised mice in differing stages of bacterial microbiota composition. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice develop spontaneous type 1 diabetes (T1D), and previous studies using these mice have shown that disease incidence has a strong female bias and can be prevented in females with testosterone treatment. In this study, the authors found that, in contrast to the sex bias in disease incidence found in mice housed under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions, disease incidence was similar in female and male NOD mice under germ-free conditions, suggesting a role for the microbiota in disease protection in males.
Then they undertook analysis of serum metabolite levels the results of which identified a subset of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids that distinguished SPF male and female mice, but not germ-free males and females, suggesting that commensal gut colonisation mediates sex-dependent metabolic effects. In addition, serum testosterone levels were higher in SPF versus germ-free male mice.
Sex-specific differences were apparent at puberty and were most evident in adult mice. To determine whether the transfer of microbiota could confer sex-specific protection, female NOD weanlings were gavaged with cecal contents (a faecal transplanatation) from either adult male or adult female NOD mice. The microbiome of female recipients of male microbiota was stably altered and distinct from that of both male and female NOD mice. Female recipients of male microbiota had higher levels of serum testosterone and altered glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolites compared with untreated female mice or with female recipients of adult female microbiota.
These data suggest that the transfer of male gut microbiota promotes hormonal and metabolic changes in recipient female NOD mice.
Importantly, disease incidence (characterised by hyperglycaemia, autoantibody production and insulitis) was greatly reduced in female mice that received male microbiota compared with controls.
Comment
[1] Leavy O. Autoimmunity: Gut bugs help protect males from diabetes. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013 Mar;13(3):152-3. doi: 10.1038/nri3409. Epub 2013 Feb 15.
[2] Markle, J. G. M. et al. Sex differences in the gut microbiome drive hormone-dependent regulation of autoimmunity. Science 17 Jan 2013 View Abstract
Faecal Transplantation Re-Establishes the Balance of Nature
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An article in the New England Journal of Medicine, January 2013 explores the validity of faecal transplant therapy for the resolution of C. difficile therapy and reminds us that back in 1958 clinicians in Denver trialled this therapy to “re-establish the balance of nature” within the intestinal flora to correct the disruption caused by antibiotic treatment.[1]
Butyric acid: what is the future for this old substance?
A recent paper in the journal Swiss Medical Weekly explored the developing uses for the application of butyric acid in the management of human health.[1]
Butyric acid (BA) is a carboxylic acid with the formula CH3-CH2-CH2-COOH. It is frequently used in the veterinary field, especially in ruminant animals. Together with other short-chain fatty acids (propionic acid and acetic acid), BA is the principal source of energy produced by ruminal fermentation of cellulose and starch. In the field of zootechnics, butyric acid is used to improve the growth of bovine animals.[2] In humans, BA is synthesised by the colonic microflora (microbiota) during fermentation of digestible fibre, such as cereal flour, inulin, and psyllium.[3]
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At Last a Good Use for Coca Cola?
Now it is unlikely that when I mention the problem for which a recent publication in in the January 2013 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics confirmed Coca Colas therapeutic use, that you have either heard of it, or will ever see it in clinic.[1]
However, the spin on this use is the effect of coca cola and the implications for its continued ingestion, especially when eating.
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Probiotics Consumed During Pregnancy And Breast Feeding Reduces Risk Of Eczema In The Infant
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For a number of years I have written, lectured, discussed and treated people with the emerging confidence that the application of benign, but signalling specific human derived bacteria would have benefits in terms of mucosal tolerance. One of the areas I have been most interested in has been the use of lactic acid bacteria as an immune modifying organism. As the first 1,000 days of a human’s life represent the ones in which immune activity is most responsive, the implication is that early stage supplementation – even in utero supplementation will have a modifying effect on some risk factors associated with a loss of mucosal tolerance.
Miles on menu may help healthy choices
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A recent study and surrounding media has suggested that explaining to energy costs of foods eaten in terms of activity required to utilise the calories may offer a better incentive for a healthy choice by the consumer.[1] Ignoring the concept that ‘a calorie is a calorie is a calorie’ is a flawed one, the impact on choice was interesting.
Gluten Sensitivity: Real or Not
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…..Is the title to the BMJ’s Editor’s Choice article this week (Dec 12th 2012) and whilst we in the Nutritional Therapy world find the concept that physicians still deny the empirical evidence of people recovering post gluten and often lactose excluding diets as NOT being indicative of there being a problem, Fiona Godlee does recognise a problem exists.[1]
