This article is not medical or healthcare related advice. Before starting any medical or health related regimen, seek the advice of your Primary Care Physician or an M.D.
One of the most common issues in the chronic illness community, is that of gut related problems, and general dysbiosis. With in this, many, suffer from way too much bacteria that are gram negative in nature, and as such, produce LPS, and endotoxins. There are many bacteria that fit the bill for this, but two of the most discussed are Bacteroides, and Clostridia (some species).
LPS and endotoxin alone can cause a significant immune response if they make their way through the gut wall (e.g. leaky gut), and then enter the immune system through Tol Receptor genes (TOLR2, TOLR4). The LPS then directly stimulates NFKB, then TNFA and we are off to the races with the 'circus'. There are well known agents that can stop this at the entry point, and those are helpful. But wouldn't it be best to also lower the burden of excess gram negative bacteria (a different post) and also have some potential agent to mop up the endotoxin before it passes through the gut wall ? But before we go there - the power of spore based pro biotics - against endotoxin is impressive.
Spore Based Pro Biotic ("MegaSporeBiotic") Reduced Endotoxin by 42% in 30 days
"Apparently healthy men and women (n = 75) were screened for post-prandial dietary endotoxemia. Subjects whose serum endotoxin concentration increased by at least 5-fold from pre-meal levels at 5-h post-prandial were considered “responders” and were randomized to receive either placebo (rice flour) or a commercial spore-based probiotic supplement [Bacillus indicus (HU36), Bacillus subtilis (HU58), Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus clausii for 30 days. The dietary endotoxemia test was repeated at the conclusion of the supplementation period. Dietary endotoxin (LAL) and triglycerides (enzymatic) were measured using an automated chemistry analyzer. Serum disease risk biomarkers were measured using bead-based multiplex assays as secondary, exploratory measures.
Data were statistically analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and a P < 0.05. We found that spore-based probiotic supplementation was associated with a 42% reduction in endotoxin (12.9 ± 3.5 vs 6.1 ± 2.6, P = 0.011) and 24% reduction in triglyceride (212 ± 28 vs 138 ± 12, P = 0.004) in the post-prandial period Placebo subjects presented with a 36% increase in endotoxin (10.3 ± 3.4 vs 15.4 ± 4.1, P = 0.011) and 5% decrease in triglycerides (191 ± 24 vs 186 ± 28, P = 0.004) over the same post-prandial period. We also found that spore-based probiotic supplementation was associated with significant post-prandial reductions in IL-12p70 (24.3 ± 2.2 vs 21.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.017) and IL-1β (1.9 ± 0.2 vs 1.6 ± 0.1, P = 0.020). Compared to placebo post supplementation, probiotic subject had less ghrelin (6.8 ± 0.4 vs 8.3 ± 1.1, P = 0.017) compared to placebo subjects."[9]
Charcoal is an excellent binder for endotoxin, and yet it can also cause gut disturbance and shouldn't be used consistently long term due to its tendency to bind nutrients and minerals. And alternative to charcoal to bind endotoxin is Sasparilla Root.
Sasparilla has other benefits too:
Increases anti-oxidative defense activities (10, 1).
May help against colon cancer cell proliferation (2).
Helps reduce oxidative stress due to lead toxicity in rats (3).
Inhibits TGF - B1 (7), and thus the migration of cancer cells
Inhibits the elevation in transaminase activity, reduces the TNF-alpha production(4).
Has been shown to be hepatoprotective (5).
Antimicrobial, specifically against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia (8);
Possible anti-spirochete agent (borrelia, babesia, etc.)
References:
1. Özsoy, Nurten, Alper Okyar, Pelin Arda-Pirinçci, Ayşe Can, Şehnaz Bolkent, and Nuriye Akev. “Evaluation of Smilax Excelsa L. Use in Experimentally Induced Nephrotoxicity.” Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi (2013): n. pag. Web.
2. Challinor, Victoria L., Peter G. Parsons, Sonet Chap, Eve F. White, Joanne T. Blanchfield, Reginald P. Lehmann, and James J. De Voss. “Steroidal Saponins from the Roots of Smilax Sp.: Structure and Bioactivity.” Steroids 77.5 (2012): 504-11. Web.
3. Xia, Daozong, Xinfen Yu, Sipei Liao, Qijia Shao, Huili Mou, and Wei Ma. “Protective Effect of Smilax Glabra Extract against Lead-induced Oxidative Stress in Rats.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130.2 (2010): 414-20. Web.
4. Wang, Jun, Ying Zhao, and Qiang Xu. “Astilbin Prevents Concanavalin A-induced Liver Injury by Reducing TNF-α Production and T Lymphocyte Adhesion.” J Pharm Pharmacol Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 56.4 (2004): 495-502. Web.
5. Mandal, Subhash C., et al. “Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Smilax chinensis L. root.” Pharmacologyonline 2 (2008): 529-535.
6. Asiah, O., N.Y. Nurhanan, and A. Mohd Ilham. “ Determination of Bioactive Peptide (4.3 KDA) as an Aphrodisiac Marker in Six Malaysian.” Journal of Tropical Forest Science 19.1 (2007): 61-63. Web.
7. Sarsaparilla (Smilax Glabra Rhizome) Extract Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Cancer Cells by Suppressing TGF-β1 Pathway. Tiantian She, 1 Chuanke Zhao. PLoS One. 2015; 10(3): e0118287. Published online 2015 Mar 5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118287. PMCID: PMC4351248. PMID: 25742000.
8. Antimicrobial activity of Hemidesmus indicus, Ficus bengalensis and Pterocarpus marsupium roxb
M. Gayathri and K. Kannabiran*. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2009 Sep-Oct; 71(5): 578–581.
doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.58182. PMCID: PMC2866357. PMID: 20502584
9. Oral spore-based probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced incidence of post-prandial dietary endotoxin, triglycerides, and disease risk biomarkers. Brian K McFarlin, Andrea L Henning. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2017 Aug 15; 8(3): 117–126.. Published online 2017 Aug 15. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v8.i3.117. PMCID: PMC5561432. PMID: 28868181
10. Chang, Xie, Shen Chan-juan, Chen Shu-he, Ye Xiao-chuan, Zou Peng-cheng, and Liu Yan-wen. “Study on Serum Pharmacochemistry of Anti-inflammatory Active Site in Smilax China L.” Herald of Medicine (2012)
Comments