Author Archives: lassesen

Unknown's avatar lassesen 4:48 am on September 13, 2013  

Example of some modern microbiome disaster additives?

I suspect there are many other items that have come out of corporate labs that were not evaluated on their impact on the Microbiome before they were approved for use in food. This is just one example. This 2008 study is illuminating on the possible impact on humans.

Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein and cytochrome p-450 in male rats.

“At the end of the 12-wk treatment period, the numbers of total anaerobes, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, Bacteroides, clostridia, and total aerobic bacteria were significantly decreased; however, there was no significant treatment effect on enterobacteria.”

A 2012 study, The antimicrobial activity of the three commercially available intense sweeteners against common periodontal pathogens: an in vitro study. states “All the three sweeteners showed significant antimicrobial activity against the periodontal pathogens tested. Sucralose  showed maximum zone of inhibition, against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Saccharin and aspartame showed maximum zone of inhibition, against Porphyromonas gingivalis.”

A 2007 study Effect of chewing gums containing xylitol or probiotic bacteria on salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli also found impact.

In fact, going back to 1990, we have The influence of sucralose on bacterial metabolism found  “The incorporation of 126 mmol/L sucraloseinto glucose agar medium caused total inhibition of growth of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-17, Streptococcus sanguis 10904, Streptococcus sanguis Challis, Streptococcus salivarius, and Actinomyces viscosus WVU627. ”

There is a nasty two edge sword here — xylitol is often advocate for a mouth wash or for people with diabetes. It is also lethal for dogs. What we know, dates back to 1985 with Gut microflora interactions with xylitol in the mouse, rat and man. “xylitol feeding caused a clear shift in the rodent faecal microbial population from Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria. In human volunteers a similar shift was observed even after a single 30-g oral dose of xylitol. ”

We can even look at this 2012 study looking at Stevia: Antimicrobial potential of extracts from Stevia rebaudiana leaves against bacteria of importance in dental caries.  “For the four Lactobacillus… suggesting they were the most susceptible microorganisms.” So yogurt with Stevia is not a wise food choice….

In short, all of the artificial (or greatly concentrated unusual sugars) alter the microbiome.  Is it an alteration for the better or the worst?  There are no studies, especially for CFS patients — apart from d-ribose (which helps CFS patients).

Trying some of these for 10 days may have a positive effect. If so, then pulse them every 6-12 weeks. If you are regularly using any of them. Get off them for at least 8 weeks and see if there is a change.

We do not know if they help or hinder. They do change. They are effectively non-prescription antibiotics!

Unknown's avatar lassesen 7:31 pm on September 2, 2013  

Neurological Symptoms and the Gut

Medicine often assumes a very mechanical approach to illness and symptoms. This keeps medicine simple (almost naive in one sense). “Where the symptom is, is where the problem is”.

So if there is cognitive issues, then a MRI should show it (rarely the case for CFS/Chronic Lyme). We now know that SPECT scans show 80-90% abnormality for these conditions.

A recent paper, Towards a ‘systems’-level understanding of the nervous system and its disorders (2013), states: ” Accordingly,neurological and psychiatric disorders are increasingly being associated with a range of systemic comorbidities including, most prominently, impairments in immunological and bioenergetic parameters as well as in the gut microbiome [gut bacteria].” 

This is echoed in another 2013 article Bacterial colonization factors control specificity and stability of the gut microbiota states “Mammals harbour a complex gut microbiome, comprising bacteria that confer immunological, metabolic and neurological benefits.”

A third paper from 2013, The intestinal microbiome, probiotics and prebiotics in neurogastroenterology. is of particular interest because it states ” These findings provide novel insights for improved understanding of the potential role of gut microbial communities on psychological disorders, most particularly in the field of psychological comorbidities associated with functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and should present new opportunity for interventions with pro- and prebiotics.”

IBS is very often comorbid with CFS and thus neurological (a.k.a. psychological) disorders of CFS falls into this potential scope.  This connection is why I advocate (strongly) that CFS patients should add a weekly rotation between

Both have had studies that showed a significant percentage of remission from IBS. There have been no studies on the impact on IBS that is comorbid with CFS.  With IBS there is a simple one step association, CFS is two steps away often.

A 2012 article is available in full text for free  Gut microbial communities modulating brain development and function. We know that stress can cause CFS flares, this article states “stress induced secretion of norepinephrine favored overgrowth of non-pathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli as well as the pathogenic E. coli0157:H7″, we do not know which other species are impacted by norepinephrine.

We know that B12 is typically low, the article states “Gut microbiota also synthesize vitamins that are essential for human survival such as vitamins K2 and B12. Vitamin B12 or cobalamin is produced mainly by Lactobacillus reuteri and is important for development of the nervous system.” L.Reuteri is almost always found to be very low or almost non-existent for CFS patients.  This low level may be a significant contributor to neurological issues.

Bottom Line

There is significant evidence that microbiome may be the cause of some of CFS neurological issues. There are three probiotics that are commercially available that have studies backing their use,

Do not take these at the same time, rotate them in isolation (and cut out the yogurt and other fermented products containing lactobacillus acidophilus while taking them].

Unknown's avatar lassesen 6:33 am on September 2, 2013  

Fungal meningitis – Alternative Treatment Approach?

A long time friend, “QD”, emailed me because she strongly suspect she has a moderate ongoing (treatment resistant?) case of fungal meningitis which she describes as ” but the brain damage continues – constant head pressure, severe damage to my balance, temporary nystagmus, 3 am anxiety attacks – all of this new since the onset of ????” I do not know if she has this condition, but I will assume that she has and see where PubMed leads for possible solutions:

According to the CDC, this condition may be caused by one (or more) of the following:

A recent articles states “Diagnostic certainty remains difficult with these infections[fungal meningitis] due to the poor sensitivity of available diagnostic tests. “ [2012]

General speculation

Many of these are known to form biofilms, which suggests rinsing the mouth out with a solution of both EDTA and NAC and then spitting it out. Add in capsules of EDTA and NAC with your usual supplements.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23954841

Candida albicans

Looking at the following recent PubMed articles we find some herbs that are found effective:

And for probiotics, research suggests that it is very species specific:

Cryptococcus neoformans

For herbs, just two articles (both available in full text for free):

Nothing found for probiotics. However recent studies found that a combination theraphy is more effective[2013]

Histoplasma

Nothing found for herbs or probiotics

Blastomyces

Nothing found for herbs or probiotics

Coccidioides

Nothing found for herbs or probiotics

Bottom Line

These infections appear to be both difficult to accurately diagnosis and treat. There appears to be some potential benefit with some probiotics (if you can find the species available) and with some specific herbs (which may be more difficult to obtain).

Unknown's avatar lassesen 10:13 pm on August 17, 2013  

Checklist of atypical CFS recommendations

Probiotics:

Note: Do not take any of the above together, rotate them in a 7-10 day cycle.

Probiotic Helping Food

Spices

  • Neem
  • Tulsi
  • Haritake
  • Tumeric
  • Olive Leaf

These may be taken in combination — but do not take with probiotics (which could have greatly reduced efficiency)

Unknown's avatar lassesen 2:45 pm on August 14, 2013  

Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 – a demonstrated probiotic

A recent study found that this specific strain had significant improvement of IBS LAB MEASURES. Since IBS is co-morbid with CFS, it should also cause improvement of CFS.

There is an updated summary in 2018, recommended reading.

There are 10 studies on this and IBS on PubMed

“There was not a clear positive effect of probiotics concerning the quality of life.Conclusions: some probiotics are an effective therapeutic option for IBS patients, and the effects on each IBS symptom are likely species-specific.” [2013]

There is a single study looking at CFS, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 modulates host inflammatory processes beyond the gut which observed ” both gastrointestinal (UC) and non-gastrointestinal (CFS and psoriasis) patients had significantly increased plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared with healthy volunteers.  B. infantis 35624 feeding resulted in reduced plasma CRP levels in all three inflammatory disorders compared with placebo. “, the full research paper is available [here].

So where do you get this species? Align Digestive Care Probiotic Supplement appears to be a single species probiotic consisting only of this species (which I am very happy about it not being a mix).  For more information see http://www.aligngi.com/

See Comments: for items Bifidobacterium Infantis – Align If you got a FRESH BOX … the study dosage is 10 capsules per day (10 BCFU) if you want to repro a successful study
that is $7.50/day. While the strain is unknown, Epigenetics product may be a lot cheaper (at 5 bn CFU/serving) or  $0.95/day.

Histamine Reaction

A reader has reported a histamine reaction to this probiotic.
This is in agreement with published studies
““. He had taken the probiotic Infloran Berna (Berna Biotech) which contained Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis before he started to experience recurrent episodes of D-lactic acidosis”

Click to access 2006;11;246-254.pdf