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A "disease quadrangle"- gut microbiome link to COVID -19

7月

10日

Recent June 25-26 2020 news articles in Medical News Today suggests there is a connection between our gut microbiome and various viruses including COVID-19.

One study in Cell says "microorganisms are increasingly recognized as ecosystem-relevant components because they affect the population dynamics of hosts," suggesting a four-tier influence or "disease quadrangle" by host, host microbiome, pathogen, and environment (1). This report recommends better understanding the role of microbiomes in disease dynamics. A Medical News Today article implies the traditional "disease triangle" may be obsolete. For example, in the case of malaria, a mosquito is less likely to become vulnerable to the malaria parasite if it has more bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family in its gut (2). The Enterobacteriaceae species protects against malarial infection. Researchers have found that climate temperature has a strong effect on the growth of pathogens and gut bacteria, and therefore the spread of disease.

Which brings us to our current COVID-19 problem. It is already known that gastrointestinal symptoms are common among people testing positive for COVID-19. A stronger link still as reported by Medical News Today say research found the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the stool of COVID-19 patients (3). Though more research is required to conclusively prove these links, there is strong evidence that these links affect the severity and risk level of patients.

One point that can't be denied is that a significant paradigm shift has arrived with the fourth factor in how we look at disease and disease prevention. Host microbiome, is a critical part of understanding how we treat and prevent diseases.

1 https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/fulltext/S1471-4922(20)30107-0

2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/amp/articles/microbiome-may-mediate-link-between-climate-change-and-new-diseases

3 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-could-gut-bacteria-be-involved

#bacteria #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #healthtech

Health benefits of lavender oil

7月

8日

source: depositphotos.com

Lavender oil is distilled from the plant lavender (lavandula angustifolia). It has become one of the most popular forms of aromatherapy, according to a June 20 2020 article by Yahoo news (1). The herb contains components like linalool and linalyl which tout a long list of benefits such as improving digestion, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, calming and soothing skin, antibacterial and antimicrobial.

One popular lavender oil Silexan was found to contain 36.8% of linalool and 34.2% of linalyl acetate26, according to a December 2019 human clinical study reported in Nature Magazine (2). The Nature report points out that anxiety disorders in United States reaches as much as 28.8% of the mostly working population, compared to 14.5% in Europe, and 20% in Australia.

Lavender oil is so concentrated that you often need to combine it with a carrier oil (like coconut, jojoba and argan oil, to name a few) before applying directly to your skin. Most reputable producers will have already included the carrier oil, ready to use.

This article was co- written by Cindy Postma, Herbsprout essential oils contributor.

1) https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/lifestyle/16-lavender-oil-uses-way-230000614.html
2) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-54529-9

Connection found between gut microbiome and cholesterol levels

7月

4日

Research on our gut microbiome keeps rolling in, this time a June 24 2020 report by Harvard Gazette on the work of Dr. Emily Balkus of Harvard's chemistry department.

Scientists have known there to be a connection between cholesterol and the gut for centuries. The study was able to determine that the IsmA gene in gut microbiome of people they studied have 55 to 75 percent less cholesterol in their stool. “Those who have this enzyme activity basically have lower cholesterol,” said Dr. Balkus' co-senior author Ramnik Xavier, core member at the Broad Institute, co-director of the Center for Informatics and Therapeutics at MIT, and investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Balskus and her associate Doug Kenny, a Ph.D. candidate in her department, sequenced the entire genome of the cholesterol-consuming hog bacterium, according to the Harvard Gazette in order to isolate the IsmA gene.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/the-connection-between-microbes-and-cholesterol-levels/

How gut microbiome interact with prescription drugs

7月

2日

source: dreamstime.com

A June 10 2020 article in SciTech Daily explains "how gut bacteria metabolize drugs, and could aid the development of medications that are more effective, have fewer side effects, and are personalized to an individual’s microbiome". The research was conducted by researchers at Princeton University and led by Mohamed S. Donia, assistant professor of molecular biology.

The researchers identified 57 cases in which gut bacteria can alter existing oral medications, which can alter the medications to be less effective, not effective at all, or even toxic. Unfortunately, the Princeton study will require more detailed study of specific gut microbiome strains to isolate which bacteria are affecting the medications and how.

The SciTech Daily reported that "researchers found that some people’s microbiomes had little effect on a given drug, while other microbiomes had a significant effect," causing a wide variability between individuals tested. In addition, Princeton's Donia said it calls for studying of various drugs on the "entire intestinal microbial community.”

https://scitechdaily.com/princeton-researchers-catalog-the-gut-microbiomes-impact-on-medications/amp/

How does exercise affect your gut microbiome?

6月

27日

source: gograph.com

A June 21 2020 report by Inverse found that even modest amounts of exercise can positively influence our gut microbiome. The study found that as little as a three hour brisk walk or swim per week had increased levels of the gut microbe strains Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia hominis, and Akkermansia muciniphila, compared with sedentary individuals. Two of these species of gut bacteria, F. prausitzii and R. hominis, reduce inflammation. A. muciniphila, considered a keystone species in our gut, is associated with a lean body mass index (BMI) and improved metabolic health, according to the Inverse article.

It is well known that the microbes living in our guts are altered through diet such as dietary fiber and dairy products, which support the growth of beneficial bacteria in our gut. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise can also modify the types of bacteria that reside within our gut.

Inverse reported one study found exercise promotes the growth of bacteria that produce a fatty acid, butyrate. Butyrate can promote repair of the gut lining and reduce inflammation, therefore potentially preventing diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes.

Inverse found a study of mice that were given a high-fat diet – increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in their gut, which are linked to type two diabetes and obesity.

See article at https://www.inverse.com/science/gut-health-exercise/amp

Recommended Salt intake positively influences gut microbiome

6月

25日

source: pixabay.com

According to a June 09 2020 study of 145 patients with untreated hypertension, "daily sodium intake close to the 2,300 milligrams recommended by groups like the American Heart Association, resulted in increased levels of short-chain fatty acids, an indicator of a healthy microbiome, circulating in the blood". The study was conducted by the Augusta University Medical College of Georgia led by molecular geneticist Dr. Haidong Zhu.

Short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs, are known to play a key role in regulating your blood pressure. Dr. Zhu claims it is the first ever human study to look at how "decreasing salt intake in humans affects circulating short-chain fatty acids." However, Zhu found that the study's results were more conclusive for women than men. The article quotes Dr. Zhu saying, "We need to study it further. . . It may be that high-salt affects blood pressure through different pathways in males and females."

The study was reported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-06/mcog-hdi060920.php .

#ai #bacteria #cardiovasculardisease #datascience #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #healthtech #obesity #salt #sodium

"One man's food is another man's poison"

6月

21日

Naveen Jain, CEO, Viome.

What if? What if our current understanding of microbiomes is not ‘what if’, but ‘what is’? Because today, our understanding of healthcare has gone full circle to the conclusion that “there is no such thing as a universal healthy diet.” There is no universal healthcare solution, since every person is different down to the molecular level. Naveen Jain, CEO of Viome adds, “a diet that’s good for you, is not good for me. A diet that's good for me now won't be good for me three months from now because our microbiomes are constantly changing,” he says. “Our microbiomes to some extent controls our brain through the way they are constantly communicating with it back and forth. In fact, these bugs in our gut are like a puppet master. They tell our brain when we are hungry, they tell us what we crave. So when you crave chocolate, don't blame your brain, blame your microbiomes.”

“The interesting thing is they communicate with the micro RNA in your brain in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. That means they (contribute to) controlling our emotional behavior and they (contribute to) controlling our decision making. They in fact modify the genetic expression of our human genes. That means it's not even what our DNA tells us. Our DNA is simply a potential of what could happen. Our genetic expression tells you actually what is happening and these guys (microbiomes) control what is actually being expressed.”

“It's really to some extent what Hypocrates stated, ‘all diseases start in the gut.’ That was two thousand years ago. ‘One man's food is another man's poison. And that is true today.’ So when your mother says to you ‘listen to your gut; do your gut check.’ That is the best science advice you can get. She knows what she is talking about.”

Referring to Viome’s transcriptome testing technology, “The technology is able to look at every single thing that's happening in the body. What genes are being expressed by your mitochondria; What genes are being expressed by your blood; What genes are being expressed by your microbiome; And it looks at all of that with artificial intelligence and tells you exactly what food to eat and what food to avoid.”

From a small stool sample, Viome is able to do this. It is able to perform a complete sequencing and identify the strain and genetics expression of a person’s entire microbiome content. This includes all the person’s bacteria, viruses, bacteriophages, archaea, fungi, yeast, and parasites, and the range of chemicals, or metabolites they create. The metabolites these microbiomes create are important to one’s health because they can produce healthy B vitamins, for example, or they can produce cancer causing agents. No other company can claim this breadth of data.

To find out more information, visit http://Viome.com .

#ai #bacteria #cardiovasculardisease #datascience #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #healthtech #obesity

What is butyrate, and why are they so very important?

6月

18日

Here is one of the "symbiotic" relationships we have with the bacteria in our gut. There are three main short chain fatty acids (SCFA) - acetate, propionate, and butyrate - that are produced by our gut microbiome. Butyrate is a byproduct of your gut microflora breaking down prebiotic fibers and serve as food for the cells that line the walls of our gut. When we consume prebiotic foods, our gut bacteria ingests these foods and produce the short chain fatty acids (SCFA). It has been linked to health benefits such as reduced cancer risk, weight loss, reduction in hypercholesterolemia, improved electrolyte/mineral absorption and a healthier immune system.

Some good butyrate sources to include in your diet would be beans, muesli, cooked plantains, unripe bananas, cooked potatoes and cooked rice, as they upregulate the production of butyrate in your body. On the other hand, butter and ghee are directly ingested sources of butyrate and thus highly recommended for use in cooking!

More reading about the benefits of butyrate:
https://www.fivejourneys.com/blog/tackling-gut-health-with-sources-of-butyrate-why-what-how/

https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/what-is-butyrate/

Gut microbiome discovery bring new meaning to "follow your nose"

6月

14日

A May 31 2020 study by University of Antwerp, Belgium reported hy Science Alert brings new meaning to the Fruit Loops Toucan famous saying, "follow your nose, it always knows."

University of Antwerp microbiologist Sarah Lebeer and her team analysed nose bacteria from 100 healthy volunteers and 225 people with chronic rhinosinusitis, a condition of swelling and pain in the nasal passages. They found that lactobacilli, particularly Lacticaseibacillus, were abundant up to 10x more in healthy participants.

See article here, https://www.sciencealert.com/your-nose-bacteria-might-play-a-role-in-good-health-just-like-the-gut-microbiome/amp .

#ai #bacteria #cardiovasculardisease #datascience #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #healthtech

Keystone Species "key" to healthy gut

6月

11日

Just as keystone species in wildlife are important for a healthy ecosystem, the same is true of the microbiota in our gut. Probiotics are the foundation for gut health and overall immunity, according to Jenny Pandol, Executive Director of the Microbiome Learning Center.

"We need certain strains of bacteria to modulate the gut. While it’s true we need to be taking high quality probiotics and perhaps many OTC may be ineffective, the opposite is true with quality probiotics added to the diet along with other lifestyle and diet modifications."

"There are certainly trusted brands and yes, the gut Microbiome can change day to day and even meal to meal," says Pandol..

"The key is to have balance with certain keystone species that modulate the ecosystem. They are like body guards keeping things in check and keeping pathogenic organisms from over growth. Different microbes thrive on different fibers so depending on what you eat certain microbes will thrive."

The following gut bacteria are among the keystone species we need for a healthy gut: Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia, christendsenella, clostridia, bacillus subtilis species. We need Lacto but they aren’t considered keystone, adds Pandol.

There a few quality probiotic supplement brands that stand out in quality, among others. These are Terra flora , Megaspore, Designs for Health, Metagenics to name a few.

More information about the Microbiome Learning Center is available here: https://microbiomelearningcenter.com

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自己紹介

By HerbSprout.com

https://herbsprout.home.blog/ HERBSPROUT ADVISORY BOARD: ___________________________

●Jenny Pandol, Co-owner/founder/ COO, Microbiome Learning Center;
●Dr. Sabine Hazan, Founder and CEO, Progenabiome and Ventura Clinical Trials;
●Naveen Jain, Founder & CEO, Viome
●Hans Parge, ex-Pfizer director;
●Rob Greenlee, VP, Libsyn;
___________________________

●Cindy Postma, essential oils;
●Chris Kenji Beer, herbs & microbiome;
●Ely Diana, translation/ support services.
___________________________

Cindy Postma has been a writer and editor across all disciplines. She has been an instructor of Asian studies at Kings College (Cambridge), Columbia, and Cornell. She received her PhD from Kyoto University, Masters from Columbia University, and undergraduate from The University of Washington. She is proficient in four Asian languages and French. ____________________________

I am Chris Kenji Beer, Herbsprout writer and editor. I come from a family of health nuts. My mom was a psyche major and shared her Japanese culinary tradition. Uncle Tetsuo was and cousin Satoru Harada is a surgeon. Aunt Shigeko was a dietitian in Hiroshima before complications from the nuclear fallout took her life. I am currently enrolled at Bastyr University's Ayurvedic Health Advisor program. In the past, I spent many years researching health care. I was published on the topic "Japanese Health Care for the Elderly" by the U.S. - Japan Foundation, and as co-author of health care reports for National Conference of State Legislatures Health Services Program, NW Asian Weekly, & as Editor/ co-Publisher of Asia Pacific Economic Review. Email us with questions or comments @ sales@mzinger.com. ____________________________

The contents of this webblog is not intended to be used to treat, cure, mitigate, or diagnose any medical condition. The readers must consult your doctor before you make any changes that could affect your health.