Clinical Nutrition Highlights

 Clinical Nutrition Meeting Insights

The following are some insights into nerve issues and nutrition from the recent yearly clinical nutrition meeting:

Depression:

A mouse model of depression found that some of the most common blue-red polyphenols decreased the symptoms of depression in mice induced by LPS-- lipopolsaccharides, substances which build up in the digestive tract on diets high in processed foods. LPS are very inflammatory. Polyphenols decreased brain inflammation in the hippocampus, calmed the nerves and promoted improved nerve health. The hippocampus is a key part of the brain associated with learning, memory and emotion. Supplements rich in polyphenols such as NeoLife Tre may be helpful in warding off depression when we are not eating the way we should.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00087

The Vagus Nerve:

Several speakers at the conference pointed out that the vagus nerve connects the gut or digestive tract with the brain. The gut has so many neurons that it has been called the body's second brain. Due to the vagal nerve superhighway between gut and brain what goes on in one can have profound effects on the other. Abnormalites in gut function are common in many neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD.

Parasites:

American medicine give little attention to parasites but addressing them is sometimes helpful in addressing brain and nerve problems. Dr. Emily Gutierrez shared research on which compounds were the most helpful in dealing with common parasites. At the top of the list for bacteria were garlic and pumpkin seeds, and ivermectin. Most helpful for yeast was capryllic acid, nystatin, and grapefruit seeds.

SALMAN, S. S.; ARDALAN, N. M. Evaluation of Amygdalin (B17) and Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin seed) Activity Against Blastocystis from Diarrheic Patients in Baghdad, Iraq: in Vitro Study. Plant compounds: • Allium sativum L. displayed high efficacy as a potential therapeutic agent against Cryptosporidium (mouse model) • Amygdalin (B17, plant compound from apricot seed) and cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed) effective against blastocystis (in vitro)

Alyaa Farid, Mona Yousry, Gehan Safwat, Garlic (Allium sativum Linnaeus) improved inflammation and reduced cryptosporidiosis burden in immunocompromised mice,Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume292,2022,115174,ISSN 0378- 8741,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115174.\

Weed, Seed, and Grow:

Promoting growth of beneficial organisms in the digestive tract of one of the most important things we can do to promote not only overall health, but also to help protect and nourish the nerves and brain.

Weeding refers to removing harmful bacteria and yeasts from the digestive tract as mentioned above.

Seeding refers to getting beneficial microbes in the digestive tract: pre and probiotic rich foods (fermented foods, garlic, asparagus, pickled vegetables, banana, honey, kefir, yogurt, onions.

Grow refers to generous intake of fibers to promote the growth of beneficial organisms: - fiber, both insoluble and soluble (apples, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds. A common mistake is to think there is only one type of fiber while there are many types and differing fibers have differing health benefits.

 Endotoxin 

   One of the most powerful inflammatory substances in the body is called LPS or lipopolysaccharide. This substance is known as an endotoxin because it is produced within the human body. When the bacteria in the digestive tract feed on high fat meals, the numbers of those that produce LPS explode contributing to chronic inflammatory conditions. At the recent clinical nutrition meeting in Dallas, one of the speakers reported on an interesting experiment. Subjects were fed high fat meals (burgers and shakes) from a fast food restaurant. Endotoxin levels exploded. The subjects were then supplemented with beneficial bacteria also known as probiotics. The beneficial bacteria largely blocked the production of endotoxin.

     LPS comes from the cell membranes of certain types of bacteria. The beneficial bacteria were obviously preventing the growth of harmful bacteria blocking the formation of inflammatory substances in the body. Individuals who are suffering with inflammatory conditions should consider avoiding high fat meals and supplement with probiotics like Acidophilus Complex when they are consuming such meals to reduce the risk of up-regulating inflammation in the body.

 The Diet That Poisons!

     I found the study I am about to describe quite startling. Perhaps you will too. Researchers placed 8 healthy subjects on a Western-style diet for one month. The diet contained 40% fat, not unusual for the average American. By the end of 30 days the levels of inflammatory toxins in the blood had increased by 71%. When the subjects were put on a diet that was only 20% fat inflammatory toxins in the blood dropped by 31% in a month.

     The researchers in this study were measuring lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a highly toxic product of the cell walls of bacteria. Accumulation of this compound is called endotoxemia because the toxins are part of the bacteria themselves rather than something the bacteria produce and release into the environment into which they live. The high fat diet actually promoted the growth of bacteria containing this substance.

     Physician David Perlmutter refers to LPS as "the incendiary device." He writes, "If there were ever a clear biological villain that flips on inflammatory pathways in the body, it would be lipopolysaccaride." It "induces a violent inflammatory response in animals if it finds its way into the bloodstream." LPS has been implicated in Alzheimer's, autism, depression, obesity, metabolic resistance, inflammatory disorders, and intestinal permeability.

     One animal study found that palm oil resulted in more endotoxemia related inflammation than did milk fat, sunflower or safflower oils in mice. This should serve as a warning that while palm oil has beneficial ketones which can improve brain health, an excess could be harmful. 

     The bottom line is consume only quality fats and these in moderation.

References:

Pendyala, Swaroop, et al., A high-fat diet is associated with endotoxemia that originates from the gut, Gastroenterology. 2012 May ; 142(5): 1100-1101.

Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2015, 56-60.

Laugerette, Fabiene, et al., Oil composition of high-fat diet affects metabolic inflammation differently in connection with endotoxin receptors in mice, American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism, February 2012;302(3):E374-386.