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Studies show how serotonin, our gut microbiome impacts our "second brain"

Mar

4

A February 07, 2020 article by Psychiatry Advisor examines the close connection between our mood, depression and our gut microbiome. Often called our "second brain", the enteric nervous system (ENS) is two thin layers of more than 100 million nerve cells lining your gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to rectum. The primary role of ENS? It regulates our digestive system - the release of enzymes and ingestion of nutrients that we need. The study of our three gut-brain axis - the nervous system, ENS, and our digestive system - are coming closer and closer to offering long term health solutions for not only depression but for other brain diseases. Scientists found that the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, by activating cytokines, trigger the release of cortisol, a potent stress hormone. It is bi-directional. When it becomes unstable our body becomes stressed which can lead to depression (see articles https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection and https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/depression-advisor/a-closer-look-at-the-importance-of-gut-mechanisms-in-depression/).

Senior author Elaine Hsiao says researchers hope to build on their current studies at UCLA to learn whether microbial interactions with antidepressants have consequences for health and disease, according to the September 2019 report (Credit: by Stuart Wolpert, University of California, Los Angeles; Reed Hutchinson/UCLA).

A study in mice led by UCLA biologists strongly suggests that serotonin and drugs that target serotonin, anti-depressants such as Prozac can have a major effect on the gut's microbiota—the 100 trillion or so bacteria and other microbes that live in the human body's intestines. Hsiao's team of researchers found that Turicibacter sanguinis, a common gut microbe, can signal nearby intestinal cells to release serotonin. Serotonin—a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger that sends messages among cells—is known as the "happy chemical as it positively influences our mood. An estimated 90 percent of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut.

"Previous studies from our lab and others showed that specific bacteria promote serotonin levels in the gut," lead author Thomas Fung said. "Our new study tells us that certain gut bacteria can respond to serotonin and drugs that influence serotonin, like anti-depressants. This is a unique form of communication between bacteria and our own cells through molecules traditionally recognized as neurotransmitters." (See articles, American Chemical Society and Phys.Org - https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/microbiome/Serotonin-helps-gut-microbes-thrive/97/i35 and
https://phys.org/news/2019-09-serotonin-popular-anti-depressant-affect-gut.html ).

The same month of September (September 17) of 2019, Professor Damien Keating, Head of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Flinders University found that our gut microbiome signals cells to serotonin production in the gut, which Dr. Keating "showed to be increased in obese humans, and this rise in blood serotonin causes significant metabolic problems.” These insights, he suggests, provides valuable first- step data points that can lead to visibility into the role of our gut microbiome, serotonin, and blood sugar levels which can aid in addressing obesity and diabetes (See Neuroscience News article, https://neurosciencenews.com/gut-bacteria-serotonin-blood-sugar-14930/ ).

Another study in Nature recommends fasting as a way to "reboot the system". According to a February 18, 2020 Nature article, "Intermittent fasting (IF) regimens which involves dietary restriction, have shown to increase lifespan, promote energy metabolism, and reduce the risk of developing various age-related pathologie." It is believed that IF influences our gut microbiome to create these results. Theoretically it can play a role in our mood and stress as the previously mentioned articles suggest (see article, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14676-4?utm_ ). Special thanks to Yeirim Kim, Herbsprout Facebook member for sharing this post.

A more natural alternative to antidepressants, a previous Herbsprout blog references herbs that support the production of serotonin. For example, Herbs that help boost serotonin levels include oatstraw, and the roots of angelica, burdock, dandelion, ginseng, wild yam and black cohosh.
https://en.bloguru.com/healthtech/356055/herbs-that-support-the-happy-chemical

Hinoki oil tests positive for easing stress

Feb

29

Permalink

Hinoki, Japanese Cypress.

Heard about Hinoki oil? It comes from a tree by the same name, the Hinoki Japanese cypress. A lemony, balsamic-scented oil, Hinoki is both soothing and relaxing, two components that favor the oil for baths and for massage or just to help you sleep. Try diffusing it or put a drop on your wrists and inhale.

Hinoki oil contains phytoncides, which are volatile substances that plants emit to protect against pathogens and insects. They possess insecticidal, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. It also contains alpha-pinenes or α-Pinene, which is an organic compound of the terpene class. It is an alkene that is found in the oils of many species of coniferous trees, such as pine and hinoki. It is also found in the essential oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Satureja myrtifolia (also known as Zoufa in some regions). This chemical is known to be anti-inflammatory, possibly antimicrobial, and a memory aid as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

Distilled from wood discards of the timber industry, the Hinoki essential oil is offering a sustainable solution to forest management. In Japan, the wood of the Hinoki is highly prized but the forests are over populating in some areas. Through it’s its sourcing program for the Hinoki essential oil, doTERRA International, the essential oils company, is encouraging the creation of jobs in rural Japan while helping to clear the forests of wood by-products. .

In Japan, Hinoki is a treasured wood used in the building of some of the oldest, existing buildings, and valued for its light scent for incense. It is commonly used to:

● Heals wounds. Hinoki essential oil has antiseptic qualities which helps to heal minor cuts, scrapes and wounds. ..
● Relieves muscle spasms. ...
● Eliminates respiratory conditions. ...
● Relieves anxiety. ...

Hinoki oil is available as a limited offer, and you can get a free 5 mL bottle of Hinoki oil as the Doterra POM (product of the month) for 125PV LRP orders placed. See https://www.doterra.com/US/en/hinoki-oil .

Co-authored by Cindy Postma. You can become a doterra member here and receive discounts on natural essential oils: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/site/cindypostma .

More information about the influence of our gut bacteria and stress, https://en.bloguru.com/healthtech/355962/stress-and-the-gutbrain-connection

#bacteria #chinesemedicine #diet #easternmedicine #essentialoilso #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #herbalmedicine #herbs #japanesemedicine #mindbody #naturopathichealth #plantnutrition #spices

Ulcerative colitis linked to missing gut microbe; 70% of our body's molecules produced by gut bacteria

Feb

26

The research we are witnessing on the gut microbiome is nothing short of revolutionary and its importance to health care is still just scratching the surface. Two perennial institutions just one day apart came up separately with two keys to the puzzles that could forever alter the way we administer health care to digestive system related diseases. These two are Stanford University and University of California San Diego.

A February 25, 2020 study by Stanford University's School of Medicine has found links between ulcerative colitis and a missing gut microbe. Led by Aida Habtezion, MD, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology, and Sidhartha Sinha, MD, assistant professor of gastroenterology and hepatology, scientists found a large deficiency in levels of a group of substances called secondary bile acids in the intestines of seven FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) patients.

FAP is a rare genetic deficiency condition where a person lacks the ability to produce the secondary bile acids (produced by gut bacteria) which derive from primary bile acids produced in the liver. Bile acids are important for effective digestion.

A February 26, 2020 study by University Of California San Diego (UCSD) found that microbes play an intimate role in the production of bile acids. In a trial of mapping the microbiome of mice, they found that 70% of the molecules in our bodies are actually produced by our gut bacteria. UCSD researchers "have created the first-ever map of all the molecules in every organ of a mouse and the ways in which they are modified by microbes," according to the UCSD press release. The research team was led by Pieter Dorrestein, PhD, professor at the UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Robert Quinn, PhD, assistant professor at Michigan State University (see article https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2020-02-26-how-resident-microbes-restructure-body-chemistry.aspx ). The findings were first published in Nature.com (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2047-9 ).

The production of these metabolites have been linked to a family of bacteria called Ruminococcaceae, according to the Stanford study. The deficiency of these metabolites makes individuals particularly susceptible to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Specifically by testing their stool samples, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were much lower in stool specimens taken from the ulcerative colitis patients.

Currently ulcerative colitis patients endure an invasive surgery putting them at risk of other health issues such as infections. Over a million Americans have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

The Stanford findings were first published online in Cell Host & Microbe. More information is available at Stanford University's website, http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/02/stanford-scientists-link-ulcerative-colitis-to-missing-gut-micro.html .

#crohnsdisease #gutbacteria #guthealth #microbiome #ulcerativecolitis

Mediterranean diet & herbs show improved gut microbiome diversity

Feb

22

Source: getty images

Seniors can be a good case study for diet efficacy. A February 17, 2020 Medical Express and British Medical Journal reported an analysis of the gut microbiome of 612 people aged 65 to 79. It is commonly understood that as we age our gut microbiome diversity progressively decreases, particularly if we consume a limited diet in our waning years. People were tested in this age group before and after 12 months of either eating their usual diet (n = 289) or a Mediterranean diet (n = 323), rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil and fish and low in red meat and saturated fats, and specially tailored to older people (NU-AGE diet).

The participants, who were either frail (n=28), on the verge of frailty (n=151), or not frail (n=433) at the beginning of the study, lived in five different countries: France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, and the UK. 323 individuals agreed to follow a Mediterranean-type diet for 1 year, while the rest continued with their usual diets and acted as a control group.

Sticking to the Mediterranean diet for 12 months was associated with beneficial changes to the gut microbiome, rich in microbiome diversity.

(See articles, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-mediterranean-diet-gut-bacteria-linked.amp ; and
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/amp/articles/mediterranean-diet-linked-to-gut-microbiome-improvements

Profile: Viome’s Genetic Code Principles

Feb

19

Viome expands on the genetic code principles. Viome is a personalized “life optimization” healthcare solution using complex biological data and the most advanced, cutting edge technology originating from Los Alamos Laboratory. Viome takes highly customized information about how the body functions at a molecular and microscopic level. In addition to the aforementioned data driven analyses, there are three pillars to the Viome solution, according to their website (see http://viome.com), using microbiome gene expression, gut metabolites, metabolome, and genetics. Here is a step-by-step overview of the Viome solution:

1) SCIENCE: Viome conducts a comprehensive metabolome and microbiome analysis (of their customer’s stool sample) resulting in high resolution complex biological data at a molecular level using a cost effective proprietary process.

2) DATA: Viome processes the customer's samples in their state- of- the- art facilities to help generate a picture of your body at a molecular level. The company combines that with their doctor-trained artificial intelligence (AI) engine to generate actionable diet, exercise, and nutrient recommendations.

3) INSIGHT: Viome offers an artificially intelligent, contextually relevant recommendation engine.

Why Viome is a leader in healthcare innovation is partly because it recognizes that the lion's share of a person's genetics resides in their gut, a whopping upwards of 90%! No other company has achieved the breadth of genetic makeup in the gut that Viome has and nor as deep and extensive data analysis of the microbial content of the body.

1. Outside Disruptors - Besides the revolutionary disruptive nature of their research, a few business takeaways here are that marketplace disruptions as in the case of Viome, can come from industry outsiders like Naveen Jain.

1. Research Incubation - Technologies such as the military from Los Alamos labs and other major research-based institutions and universities are evolving to become leading incubators to driving the entrepreneurial innovations. Pre-existing technologies and creations at the academic and laboratory level are common sources of marketplace innovations in healthcare, as in the case of Jain’s Viome, Silicon Valley's CRISPR Caribou Biosciences, and BioHub. This again reinforces the assertion that disruptive innovations can come from anywhere.

1. D2C Applications - Direct-to-consumer (D2C) applications which remove middlemen such as those of Viome and Ubiome offer more efficient and cost effective solution for health care consumers. It is not always about "reinventing the wheel" as it is "'repurposing' or 're- imagining' the wheel", as Jain likes to say. Technology and ideas can be repurposed for another business sector and be a disruptive innovation.

Circling back to the original themes of this chapter, Viome and the study of the enteric nervous system, gut microbiome research, and applying it to personalized healthcare, has effectively created what may be greatest disruptive innovation of this generation.

Viome’s Metatranscriptome Sequencing.
It is easy for a consumer to confuse different approaches to microbiome testing. Hopefully, the following chart will shed some light on the key differences. Viome has invested extensively in a new form of microbiome sequencing called Metatranscriptome Sequencing as opposed to competitor like Ubiome (now in bankruptcy), Illumina and other 16S Sequencing companies:

Head-to-Head Comparison of Microbiome Testing:

16S Sequencing:

● Identifies only a fraction of your gut bacteria; unable to identify nonbacterial microorganisms
● Low resolution (genus level only)
● Does not determine microbe function
● Unreliable; sequencing the same sample twice can yield very different results
● Unable to identify microbial metabolites, which are key for maintaining health
● Low resolution and lack of functional data preclude any actionable recommendations

Viome’s Meta-Transcriptome Sequencing:

● Identifies all bacteria and all other living organisms in your gut: viruses, archaea, yeast, fungi, parasites, and bacteriophages2
● High resolution (species & strain level)
● Quantifies the biochemical activities of all gut microorganisms
● Unbiased analysis, minimized variation in results
● Identifies which metabolites are being produced and which are missing
● Allows correlation of microbes and their functions with common chronic conditions, so actionable recommendations can be made

Links between gut health and mania/ bi-polar disorder

Feb

16

A September 04, 2019 article in the New Scientist suggests that eating a proper amount of psychobiotics, a derivation of probiotics, can improve one's mental health. (see
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332460-500-how-what-you-eat-directly-influences-your-mental-health/ ). Probiotics may help improve a variety of mental health conditions, in part due to an anti-inflammatory effect, including those suffering from manic depression and bi-polar (BP) disorders. Psychobiotics are believed to mitigate chemical imbalance in the brain, and offer an alternative to drug treatment, claims the article.

Lithium has become the most accepted remedy used for treating BP. Studies such as the 2020 Neuropsychobiology report have found little connection between lithium intake and Escherichia coli or Lactobacillus rhamnosus, except that it appears to support a stronger richness and diversity of these species. However, they found a noticeable increase in Clostridium, Peptoclostridium, Intestinibacter, and Christenellaceae following lithium treatment (see https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/504496 ). These results suggest a connection between our gut microbiota and BP treatment using lithium.

SAMPLE HUMAN TRIALS:

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine did a study to determine if probiotics could help recently discharged manic patients, according to a Harvard Health Publishing blog of June 25, 2018. Two groups of 33 patients were given Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species to one group and a placebo to the second group over a 24 week period.

The results for the rates of rehospitalization were 51.1% in the placebo group and 24.2% in the group who took probiotics. On average, the reduction in readmission was 74% lower in the probiotic group, and a 90% reduction of hospitalization in the group with the highest inflammation score. Additionally, patients who took probiotics and were rehospitalized stayed in the hospital on average 2.8 days, compared with 8.3 days for those taking placebo.

A Nature article in February 2019 referenced human trials that found connections between coprococcus and dialister bacteria, with lower levels contributing to mental health issues and specifically depression (see article, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-018-0337-x ).

While tests on mice are less reliable than human trials, they can effectively make connections between similar human functions. For example, The Scientist article reported that study coauthor Julio Licinio, a psychiatrist at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse made fecal transplants of schizophrenic mice that verified lower glutamate, glutamine, and GABA in their hippocampi. These are key amino acid neurotransmitters that are essential for brain function (see https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/gut-microbes-may-play-a-role-in-mental-health-disorders-66039/amp ).

What scientists can say with some accuracy is that there is a link between our gut bacteria and mental health. One step further, they've identified specific species of bacteria, keystone species such as bifidobacteria and lesser known species such as coprococcus and dialister bacteria. The next steps will be to prove efficacy and FDA approval as a form of treatment in mental health patients. When this might be achieved is still to be determined, but scientists are getting closer.

#ai #bacteria #datascience #diet #gutmicrobiome #health #healthinnovation #healthtech #herbalmedicine #herbs #mentalhealth #plantnutrition #probiotics #psychobiotics #spices

"I am who I am" because of my gut bugs?

Feb

14

A February 13, 2020 article published by Psychology Central claims that our personality is shaped by the bugs, or microbes, in our gut.

Microbial diversity seems to be the key indicator to a healthy personality. Strong microbial diversity supports good mental health while a low microbial diversity points toward mental health problems such as autism or neuroticism. "Personality is both inherited and influenced by one’s environment. And the environment inside humans may matter just as much as the external environment", says Katerina Johnson in the Inverse article, and a research associate at Oxford. It is believed based on ongoing research that a lack of the Akkermansia, Lactococcus, and Osciollospir bacteria in our gut shows a tendency to autism, says the report (source: https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/microbiome-mental-health-study-links-gut-bacteria-personality/amp ). Conversely, a study of primates shows that social interactions can promote gut microbiome diversity, adds Dr. Johnson (see https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/02/13/gut-bacteria-may-be-linked-to-personality-traits/154172.html ). So the research suggests it goes both ways, even though it is not explicitly stated in these articles. We are predisposed in part to being social or anti-social based on the pre-existing level of microbiome diversity in our gut, but we can promote healthy microbiome diversity in our gut by being more social.

BBC Science reported in December 2019 that probiotics and prebiotics by nurturing and nourishing our gut bugs can help ease stress and anxiety, even aid in reducing other mental health risks. (See article, https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/psychobiotics-your-microbiome-has-the-potential-to-improve-your-mental-health-not-just-your-gut-heath/amp/ ). So yes, be at ease; the bottom line is we do have self determination; we can steer and shape and mold our own personality. . . with a little help from our microbiome friends.

#autism #braingutaxis #gutbacteria #guthealth #mentalhealth #microbiome

Our microbiota changes over time as we age

Feb

13

According to the PLOS Pathogens Journal July 25, 2019 article "Microbiome evolution during host aging ", our gut microbiota "undergoes dynamic changes through time as it integrates and responds to signals from the environment," and our genetics has very little to do with these changes. However, what we eat, what types of drugs we consume, even our social and physical environment have a significant impact on the microbial content of our gut.

These microbiota remain dynamic throughout our lives, continually changing as we grow older. It is possible, according to the report, that as we age, the changes in our gut microbiome may contribute to our aging and increased vulnerability to disease and frailty, thought our understanding of these changes are still not well understood. Just like our bodies age, so do our gut microbiome, and they weaken over time and incur damage. Our younger bacteria support a stronger immune defense, while the efficacy of aging bacteria is compromised. Younger bacterial strains carry adaptive variants and mutations, enabling it to adapt to changing environments.

More details around studies backing these assertions are available here, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007727 .

Stress and "The Gut-Brain Connection”

Feb

10

The Gut- Brain axis (source: deposit photos).

An October 2019 abstract published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that managing our stress levels in all phases of our lives from childhood to old age is key to a healthy microbiota gut-brain axis. As we grow up other factors affect our gut microbiome health such as infections, use of antibiotics, nutrition, stress, among others. Stress can particularly impact our latter years as our microbial diversity goes way down over time (see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31460832 ).

The way we look at the brain and brain research has completely flipped on its head since a few decades ago when scientists first discovered that “messenger molecules” for the brain were circulating throughout the body in the bloodstream. None are more pervasive and penetrating than what scientists have found in the activities of microbiomes in the gut. Our bodies have more microbiome DNA than human DNA. The total human genome comprises around 20,000 genes, while the total microbiome DNA in our bodies total two to 20 million genes.

“Every cell is eavesdropping on the brain’s activity, sending and receiving messages identical to those that the brain processes,” says Deepak Chopra and contributing author Naveen Jain in their Huffington Post article “Will the Gut-Brain Connection Revolutionize Wellness?” (September 11, 2017; see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/will-the-gut-brain-connection-revolutionize-wellness_us_59b6b598e4b0e4419674c375 ). In this article, Chopra goes so far as to say that all the common experiences we have are indicators of the brain’s connection to the gut -- “getting butterflies in your stomach when you feel nervous, overeating when you feel anxious, feeling dull and sluggish after taking an antibiotic, contracting stomach cramps before a competitive challenge, experiencing nausea or stomach upset from taking antidepressants.” Every major organ in the body from the heart to the stomach and liver combine to possess hundreds of millions of neurons with corresponding DNA, which again collectively makes up the “enteric nervous system”.

The bacteria inside our guts, microbiomes, include unlimited numbers of species and strains. They differ from person to person with limited or no relationship from person to person.” The known “messenger molecules” associated with the brain that circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream even produce neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals our brain uses to communicate with the rest of the body. Every cell is eavesdropping on the brain’s activity, sending and receiving messages identical to those that the brain processes. For example, 90% of the well-known serotonin neurotransmitter is made in the body’s digestive tract, according to a 2015 report by CalTech (“Microbes Help Produce Serotonin in Gut”, April 09, 2015; http://m.caltech.edu/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495 ). Serotonin is the chemical often referred to as the “happy chemical” and the balance of serotonin in our body influences our mood. A deficiency of serotonin can lead to depression.

Research is being administered about the influence of gut microbiomes on everything from autism, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, Parkinson’s Disease and brain health to cancer, obesity, diabetes and weight loss. It has become widespread as major research institutions and universities are conducting studies on the subject.

Scientists have found that differences in a person’s gut can be a clue to our specific health propensities, to cancers, but also something as immediate as our daily mood, behaviors, even happiness.

#bacteria #brainresearch #datascience #gutmicrobiome #healthinnovation #healthtech #mindbody #neuroscience

Benefits and Risks of taking probiotics

Feb

6

It is scientifically confirmed that microbes help us digest food, fight harmful bacteria, and regulate the immune system. But sometimes an imbalance of microbes occurs, leading to diarrhea and other health problems, so one should exercise caution when consuming Probiotic supplements. A January 20, 2020 article by Medical News Today warns that online misinformation about probiotics is common. It has become a $40 billion business and yet there remains a lack of scientific evidence to support the health benefits of certain probiotics, or their potential side effects. The article states that only "35% of online sites referenced scientific literature, only 25% listed potential side effects." (see article, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amp/327510 ).

An August 20, 2019 report by Harvard University cautions the use of probiotic supplements, since they are not categorized as a drug by the FDA and do not undergo the same monitoring. The most common species of bacteria used in probiotics (among a potential 3,000 or so) are species of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. These can be obtained by taking supplements or foods that have naturally live cultures in them such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kimchi and pickels. But it does not necessarily mean these foods or the supplements have the adequate amount of the key probiotics you might need that are unique to you. Symptoms may arise such as experiencing loose stool, but this should not be of major concern and should disappear in short order.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-take-probiotics

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Studies show how serotonin, our gut microbiome impacts our "second brain"

Hinoki oil tests positive for easing stress

Ulcerative colitis linked to missing gut microbe; 70% of our body's molecules produced by gut bacteria

Mediterranean diet & herbs show improved gut microbiome diversity

Profile: Viome’s Genetic Code Principles

Links between gut health and mania/ bi-polar disorder

"I am who I am" because of my gut bugs?

Our microbiota changes over time as we age

Stress and "The Gut-Brain Connection”

Benefits and Risks of taking probiotics

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