A reader wrote:

  I have a question I was hoping I could get a lead on.  Under my recommendations I have polymannuronic acid.  I couldn’t find anything on your site about this and didn’t have any luck finding it in a supplement.  Taking brown seaweed seems to have risk of iodine overdose.  Have you heard of any viable options for polymannuronic acid?

Risk of Iodine overdose?

My initial take on this was ??? overdose???. All commercial table salt has iodine added because our diet has been iodine deficient! Read More Here. The Linus Pauling Institute (Oregon State University) had an excellent summary.

Seaweed and Iodine

Mean iodine concentration in bulk seaweed biomass is species specific.

The brown seaweeds have higher iodine concentrations than the red seaweed.

Iodine content in bulk biomass of wild-harvested and cultivated edible seaweeds [2018]

 Currently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) allows 600 µg day⁻¹ upper tolerable iodine intake (EFSA NDA Panel, 2014) which permits the consumption of larger quantities of seaweed, among other iodine sources. Despite high levels of iodine present in some seaweeds, ingestion of large amounts will not necessary imply a risk for excessive intake of iodine. Also, post-harvest processing such as drying and boiling in freshwater reduces iodine content in seaweeds within a couple of minutes (Lüning and Mortensen, 2015, Nitschke and Stengel, 2016). In addition, only 49–82% of seaweed iodine appeared to be accessible for absorption by humans after gastrointestinal digestion (Domínguez-González, et al., 2017). Therefore, concerns over iodine toxicity from eating seaweed appears to be unfounded. 

Polymannuronic Acid Sources

There appear to be some research sources for this chemical (i.e. Carbosynth)

Alginate is a collective term for a family of polysaccharides produced by brown algae and bacteria. Species of Pseudomonas and Azotobacter are the only prokaryotic sources for this algal like-polymer. Polymannuronic acid (PM) together with polyguluronic acid (PG) constitute the structure of alginate. 

Polymannuronic acid, a microbial polymer of great medicinal application. [2012]

Look for Alginate Supplements

The cheapest way is just buy it as a food grade thickening agent. $20.00 for 450mg/ 16 oz.

PS from a reader:

In regard to the overdose I should have been more specific.  In a google search for brown seaweed and thyroid there are several articles on thyroid problems for people who have pre-existing thyroid dysfunction.  Also one case study of a person with no thyroid condition.  Since the majority of people with CFS and related conditions also have thyroid issues, including myself, it seems to me a relevant concern.  
https://www.smh.com.au/national/sushi-seaweed-linked-to-surge-in-thyroid-illness-20110730-1i5mm.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216876/

“While high iodine intake from seaweed consumption is believed to have numerous health benefits, it has been reported to negatively affect individuals with underlying thyroid disorders [13, 14, 15, 16].”https://thyroidresearchjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-6614-4-14

A reader that I know personally have been struggling with odd challenges, especially sickness triggered by eating (within a minute). A good day was often 600 calories. The usual ‘useless’ round of both conventional and alternative physicians. The reader speech has been impacted, struggling to get a sentence out sslllooowwwwllllyyyy.

Atypical mast cell issues interacting with other medical issues appears to be the cause. Abnormal histamine release from eating was a target (deal with one symptom at a time).

The reader took inspiration from my researching PubMed, especially the older, not in fashion, treatments. The reader discovered Chromolyn Sodium. A classic asthma medication

PubMed

Almost all of the literature dealt with Asthma — it was an old treatment for Asthma.

• Effect of chronic chromolyn sodium therapy in a beautician with occupational asthma[1989].
• Monitoring of peak expiratory flow rates during occupational asthma treatment [1992].
• Cromolyn. – safety
• Original Patent: Margit Nagy, Lidia Fedina, Rita Balazs, Borbala Barta, Gizella Toth nee Gyarmati, Judit Marczis, Andras Szasz, “Antiasthmatic aerosol preparation of sodium cromoglycate.” U.S. Patent US5753208, issued June, 1965.

On a very few sites, it is mentioned as Cromoglicic acid, a mast cell stabilizer. The reader does not have asthma.

The reader was able to persuade a traditional medical physician to prescribe a one month supply as solution ampoules . (The aerosol/nasal form appears to be available over the counter and on Amazon. One spray appears to be equivalent to one ampoules). Because it was a very atypical prescription in today’s market, the pharmacist insisted on speaking with the physician. After a few days, the prescription arrived: 120 ampoules to be taken 1 every 6 hours.

Witness

After just one day, speech has greatly improved, symptoms have reduced. The reader did admit that this could be just a placebo effect — but given how much they struggled with speech just yesterday, I doubt it.

More information

Going over to DrugBank, a nice resource. We can see it’s structure (
C₂₃H₁₆O₁₁ ) and read a precise description. It was first marketed for Asthma in 1981.

A chromone complex that acts by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators from sensitized mast cells. It is used in the prophylactic treatment of both allergic and exercise-induced asthma, but does not affect an established asthmatic attack.

Cromoglicate inhibits degranulation of mast cells, subsequently preventing the release of histamine and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A), mediators of type I allergic reactions. Cromoglicate also may reduce the release of inflammatory leukotrienes. Cromoglicate may act by inhibiting calcium influx.

Gotcha’s

From Facebook feedback, some of the sprays have stabilizers which could cause adverse reactions. Checking with the reader cited above — the content had just two ingredients: sterilized water and Chromolyn Sodium.

Additional Items to Review

Using the sweet Canadian DrugBank, we have a list of alternative things to research (all Mast-cell stabilizers):

• Bepotastine – Japan
• Spaglumic Acid – Portugal and Spain
• Nedocromil
• Pemirolast
• Lodoxamide
  

Bottom Line

Just sharing a little good news in this Christmas Season.

Today, I decided to see if there were any worthy new-comers to Soil Based Organism (SBO) probiotics. The reason I tend to favor a good formulation of these is that historically, before our modern hyper-hygienic world, kids would pick a shaft of straw from the fields and suck on it — transferring bacteria from there. Or take an apple from a tree and just ripe out any dirt and eat it. Today, it will likely be washed several times before it is ever consumed. There is a growing body of evidence that this change of hygience has caused growing immune issues.

“The Amish and Hutterites are U.S. agricultural populations whose lifestyles are remarkably similar in many respects but whose farming practices, in particular, are distinct; the former follow traditional farming practices whereas the latter use industrialized farming practices….Despite the similar genetic ancestries and lifestyles of Amish and Hutterite children, the prevalence of asthma and allergic sensitization was 4 and 6 times as low in the Amish” – i.e. industrialized farming practices resulted in six times (600%) the rate of asthma and allergies. See Innate Immunity and Asthma Risk in Amish and Hutterite Farm Children(2016). This is also echoed in their farm products!!! Amish and Hutterite Environmental Farm Products Have Opposite Effects on Experimental Models of Asthma [2016]. Given a choice of buying groceries from a Hutterite farm or a Amish farm, buy the Amish (non industrialized) groceries!!!!

SBO Probiotic Supplement, 90 Capsules

• Lots of Lactobacillus — which I do not classify as SBO
• Bacillus subilitis, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans

Ancient Nutrition SBO Probiotic Supplement Dr. Axe Formula

Total disappointment as above — appears to be very similar product (may just be a custom label from same manufacturer)Lots of Lactobacillus — which I do not classify as SBO

Prescription Strength Three Strain Soil Based Probiotic – Primal Earth Probiotic from The Myers Way Protocol

Same ones as above! Bacillus subilitis, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans

Totnes’ NEW Stomach-Surviving Super Strong Soil Based Probiotics

Lactobacillus (not SBO) and Bacillus subilitis only

Enviromedica Terraflora Synbiotic SBO Supplement 

At last something a little different:

• Bacillus pumilus
• Bacillus megaterium
• Bacillus subilitis,
• Bacillus clausii,
• Bacillus coagulans 

Just Thrive: Probiotic & Antioxidant Supplement 

• Bacillus  Indicus 
• Bacillus subilitis,
• Bacillus clausii,
• Bacillus coagulans 

Royal Flora Soil Based Organisms

just states “soil based organisms” without identification

Bottom Line – Nothing new

None of the above seem to be a rich SBO probiotic.

All of these are bacillus probiotics mixtures for SBO species, very different from my two traditional favorites: Equilibrium and Prescript Assist (which appears to be under a cloud, has had recalls, and involved with legal disputes).

I would advise readers to read my earlier post from 2016 on Bacillus Probiotics. Many of these are histamine producers which can cause adverse effects for some people. If you buy, buy for best price per BCFU.

Suggested reading after reading below.

Dear Mr. Caton:

I have been retained to represent Mr. George Ackerson to address his concerns regarding the reputational damage caused by the following links on blogs and the below Facebook page you control:

Change of formula for Prescript Assist

https://www.facebook.com/CFSRemission/

http://www.meditopia.org/chap3-2.htm

Click to access George%20Ackerson%20-%20Grand%20Jury%20Indictment%20-%20Counterfeiting%201990.pdf

http://www.altcancer.net/ashwin/ashw1115.htm

I understand that you have a long history with Mr. Ackerson, and that your friendship and professional relationship ended badly. That being said, the extent to which you are posting attacks about him online goes beyond speech protected by the First Amendment to be unprotected defamation.

Further, this defamation amounts to tortious interference with Mr. Ackerson’s and Safer Medical’s business relations, as well as intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The amount of damage being inflicted is quite severe and is recoverable in a legal action against you.

On Mr. Ackerson’s behalf, I hereby request that you remove any and all reference to Mr. George Ackerson from your blogs and Facebook page, including the specifically listed links above and to refrain from posting additional information about him.

Please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss this matter. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Jennifer A. Kreder
Attorney at Law

https://www.facebook.com/JenKreder 
27110 Jones Loop Rd
Unit 128
Punta Gorda, Florida 33982
(941) 241-7686
jen@JenniferKreder.com
JenniferKreder.com

I have created a new set of charts showing the connection of bacteria to various conditions.  These charts allow drill down by taxonomy rank (phylum, order, class, genus, etc).

http://microbiomeprescription.com/Condition/Graph

NOTE: As you move down the rank, some items may not be available to graph

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Often at this level — there may be no studies.