Eating sprouts prevents AGEs

August 22, 2021August 22, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Control group, Genetic factors

This 2021 in vitro study found:

“Prolonged and chronic hyperglycemia is a leading factor in inducing formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) generated by reaction of free amino groups of proteins and carbonyl groups in reducing sugars, especially glucose and fructose. Metabolism of glucose via the glycolysis pathway also produces the most reactive compounds such as methylglyoxal (MG), a potent precursor of AGEs.

Previous studies reported that red cabbage extract could decrease glycated hemoglobin concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and oxidative stress makers including protein carbonyl content and malondialdehyde in red blood cells. Emerging evidence supports that inhibition of protein glycation and oxidative damage may be attributed to free radical scavenging activity of plant extracts.

Extracts of Brassica vegetables cauliflower, cabbage and Chinese cabbage:

Inhibited formation of AGEs;

Prevented loss of protein thiol group; and

May act as a MG-trapping and antioxidant agent.

Phenolic acids, particularly sinapic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, were commonly found in Brassica vegetables. These findings suggest that Brassica vegetables may be promising antiglycation and antioxidant agents for preventing formation of AGEs.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11130-021-00903-w “Phytochemical Composition, Antiglycation, Antioxidant Activity and Methylglyoxal‑Trapping Action of Brassica Vegetables” (not freely available)

Regarding this study’s sinapic acid findings, Broccoli sprout compounds include sinapic acid derivatives found with 6-day-old broccoli sprouts:

“Sprouting in darkness results in overall decrease in total content of sinapic acid derivatives with growth time, but promotes replacement of relatively low active constituents, such as sinapine, by stronger antioxidants. These structural changes are beneficial for total antioxidant capacity of broccoli sprouts, and are correlated with their increasing ability to scavenge free radicals, reduce transition metal ions, and inhibit lipid peroxidation.”

Regarding this study’s p-hydroxybenzoic acid findings, Advantages of 3-day-old oat sprouts over oat grains found with 3-day-old oat sprouts:

“Six hydroxybenzoic acids were found in greater amounts in sprouts, whereas two were reduced or lost.”

Getting onboard before sunrise

Gut reaction

August 21, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress Control group, Reciprocity

Two papers on broccoli compounds and gut microbiota relationships, with the first a 2021 article:

“We provide a supportive environment and a supply of nutrition and, in return, the microbiome delivers benefits to our health. What exactly are those benefits, and how can we maximise them?

Fibre component of food was thought to be completely indigestible roughage, but we now know that there is a digestible (a.k.a. soluble) component that can be fermented by bacteria resident in the large intestine, providing them with nutrition. There is also non-digestible fibre (a.k.a. insoluble fibre), which is not fermented by gut bacteria and includes plant cell walls formed from cellulose and lignin.

However, when cell walls remain intact, they encapsulate starch contained within cells and physically protect it from full digestion in the small intestine, ensuring that more passes into the large intestine where it can then be fermented by bacteria.

A bioactive is any chemical found in plant-based food that affects biological processes in the body, promoting better health or reducing risk of disease. Unlike macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins, bioactive compounds are usually found in small amounts.

One class of bioactives where this has been known for some time is glucosinolates. For some compounds, including glucosinolates, we have identified particular bacteria that perform this task. For others, we still do not know which microbes are responsible.

S-methylcysteine sulphoxide (SMCSO) is found in brassicas but also in garlic and its relatives. Its metabolic breakdown products have been associated with protective effects against prostate and colon cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

SMCSO-derived compounds are highly bioactive, so understanding how they affect the body’s central metabolic pathways could explain some of their health benefits. Only recently have we found clues to bacteria responsible.”

https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsat.3501_6.x “Gut reaction”

The 2020 study cited for SMCSO was an in vitro 2020 study by their coworkers:

“We examined effects of a broccoli leachate (BL) on composition and function of human faecal microbiomes of five different participants under in vitro conditions. Bacterial isolates from these communities were then tested for their ability to metabolise glucosinolates and SMCSO.

We believe that this is the first study that shows reduction of dietary compound SMCSO by bacteria isolated from human faeces. Microbial communities cultured in vitro in BL media were observed to have enhanced growth of lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacilli, with a corresponding increase in levels of lactate and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

These results would have been strengthened by analysing soluble fibre content of BL media. As such, it is difficult to relate these results to in vivo SCFA production following consumption of broccoli.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-020-02405-y “Effects of in vitro metabolism of a broccoli leachate, glucosinolates and S-methylcysteine sulphoxide on the human faecal microbiome”

Which one of this pair is a male? I’ll guess on the right, as it subsequently turned to face me – a threat – when I walked passed them at a distance.

An IBD trigger?

August 20, 2021 gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Immune system, Stress

Three papers on interactions of the virus and inflammatory bowel disease, beginning with a 2021 review:

“Analysis signaling pathways of innate and adaptive immunity components during SARS-CoV-2 infection in IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) patients through a putative alternative route – the gastrointestinal tract, with virus attachment to ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) expressed on IECs (intestinal enterocytes) – allows identifying some molecular pathways and establishing possible mechanisms of immune response formation.

In general, any virus infecting intestinal tissues and/or entering the host’s body through receptors located on intestinal IECs, may be a trigger for the onset of IBD in individuals.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11033-021-06565-w “Pathogenesis of the inflammatory bowel disease in context of SARS-COV-2 infection”

A second 2021 review continued:

“Patients with COVID-19 may develop various gastrointestinal symptoms, which may be pre-existing or not accompanied by respiratory symptoms. Positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in stool specimens was a breakthrough because it demonstrated that the virus could replicate and exist in the digestive tract. Duration of viral nucleic acid in feces is longer than that in respiratory specimens, and the peak of viral load is later.

COVID-19 induces an acute inflammatory response which accelerates consumption of nutrients. Gastrointestinal symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2 further impacted nutrition absorption and exacerbated malnutrition. Patients’ anxiety and poor appetite were also potential contributors to malnutrition.”

https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v27/i24/3502.htm “COVID-19 and its effects on the digestive system”

I found the above two papers by their citing a 2020 review:

“Based on data on over 1400 patients with IBD from an international registry, compared with TNF monotherapy, thiopurine monotherapy and combination thiopurines with TNF antagonists are associated with significantly increased risk of severe COVID-19. Mesalamine/sulfasalazine may be associated with an increased risk, particularly when compared with TNF antagonists. There are no significant differences between biological classes (TNF, interleukin-12/23 and integrin antagonists) on the risk of severe COVID-19.”

https://gut.bmj.com/content/70/4/725 “Effect of IBD medications on COVID-19 outcomes: results from an international registry”

I rated these three papers as requiring more work because they didn’t address an individual’s preparation for originating causes. Managing symptoms isn’t an appropriate response for what all of us face.

Instead, take personal responsibility for your own one precious life.

Looking forward, looking back

Gut microbiota functional relationships

August 11, 2021August 11, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Genetic factors, Happiness, Reciprocity

This 2021 study investigated environmentally-organized gut microbiome functional relationships:

“There has been a substantial gap between understanding microbiome assemblage and how its functionality is organized. In this study, we demonstrated the usefulness of metaproteomics in gaining a system-level understanding of microbiome functionality.

Our current finding highlights the value of further investigation into functional hubs and hub functions in microbiome proteomic content networks. This will provide a unique and systematic insight for prediction of community functional responses, or manipulation of microbiome functioning.

Across all metaproteomics datasets, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Coprococcus were found to be the most frequent functional hubs.

Taxon-function bipartite network based on functional distances between microbial genera. Size of a node corresponds to its degree.

Highly connected functions were enriched in metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids, suggesting that microbial acquisition of nutrients from the environment and trophic interactions between microbes could be major factors that shape their active functional organization. Our result showing robustness of between-taxa functional distances across individual microbiomes implied a more fundamental mechanism that underlies selective organization of microbiome functionalities by environment.

We observed a universal pattern of between-taxa functional distances (dij) across all analyzed datasets. Notably, this pattern was fully shifted by a global increase in dij values, and subsequently a significant decrease of normalized taxonomic diversity in a subset of inflammatory bowel disease samples mostly obtained from inflamed areas.

This finding may support, from a functional angle, the hypothesis that there are alternative stable states (bi-stability or multi-stability) in the gut ecosystem. One frequently discussed mechanism behind these alternative states has been continuous exposure of the microbiome to a altered environmental parameter:

An inflamed area in the gut will have a reduced mucus layer and elevated host defense responses.

Host mucus layer is a nutritional source of cross-feeding in the gut microbiome.

Loss of this layer may firstly affect network hub functions of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and subsequently affect functional interactions in the whole community.

In addition, host defense responses attenuate microbial oxidative stress responses, which have been associated to microbiome dysfunction. Decrease of within-sample functional redundancy has been associated with impaired microbiome stability and resilience.

Resilient microbiota resist external pressures and return to their original state. A non-resilient microbiome is likely to shift its composition permanently and stay at an altered new state instead of restoring to its original state of equilibrium.”

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.15.452564v1.full “Revealing Protein-Level Functional Redundancy in the Human Gut Microbiome using Ultra-deep Metaproteomics”

My top genus Faecalibacterium – a cross-feeding, acetate-consuming, butyrate-producing commensal – would be more than twice the size of this study’s Faecalibacterium network projection in the above graphic. In this year’s efforts to make my gut microbiota happy, I’ve apparently done much to express its relevant gene network.

I came across this study by it citing Gut microbiota guilds.

Microwave your Brassica vegetables

August 9, 2021August 10, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Control group

This 2021 review evaluated effects on glucoraphanin and sulforaphane content of cooking broccoli and other Brassica vegetables:

“The amount of glucosinolates (GLS) in brassica vegetables can be affected significantly during processing and cooking, depending on their specific conditions and types:

Microwaving can retain or even increase content of glucoraphanin (GLR), and can increase production of sulforaphane (SLR) within a short time;

Fermentations generally decrease content of GLR;

Short-time steaming may promote formation of SLR; and

Short-time microwaving may promote formation of SLR from GLR better than fermentation and steaming.

Other processing and cooking effects include:

Packaging and freezing can reduce loss of GLR content. Freezing treatment promotes hydrolysis of GLS to form SLR, and freezing stress may lead to GLS degradation;

Boiling and blanching result in the largest loss of GLR from broccoli, as loss of GLR content is mainly due to its leakage into the water; and

Stir-frying may be a suitable and healthful cooking option to prevent loss of GLR, but contents of GLR and SLR were still influenced due to different factors.

It is better for consumers to microwave or steam brassica vegetables before consumption to obtain greater health benefits.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030881462101013X “The effect of processing and cooking on glucoraphanin and sulforaphane in brassica vegetables” (not freely available). Thanks to Dr. Jing Sun for providing a copy.

This review found mainly negative effects of cooking Brassica vegetables with boiling, stir frying, blanching, or high pressure on glucoraphanin and sulforaphane content. Previously curated studies cited were:

Blue heron on its way to the breakfast buffet

Prevent your brain from shrinking

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Brainstem, Cerebellum, Cerebrum, Epigenetics, Hippocampus, Immune system, Limbic system, Lower brain, Memory, Stress Control group, Genetic factors, Neurodegenerative disease

My 800^th curation is a 2021 human diet and lifestyle study:

“Brain atrophy is correlated with risk of cognitive impairment, functional decline, and dementia. This study (a) examines the statistical association between brain volume (BV) and age for Tsimane, and (b) compares this association to that of 3 industrialized populations in the United States and Europe.

Tsimane forager-horticulturists of Bolivia have the lowest prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis of any studied population, and present few cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. They have a high burden of infections and inflammation, reflected by biomarkers of chronic immune activation, including higher leukocytes counts, faster erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and higher levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and immunoglobulin-E than in Americans of all ages.

The Tsimane have endemic polyparasitism involving helminths and frequent gastrointestinal illness. Most morbidity and mortality in this population is due to infections.

The Tsimane exhibit smaller age-related BV declines relative to industrialized populations, suggesting that their low CVD burden outweighs their high, infection-driven inflammatory risk. If:

Cross-sectional data (which we believe are population-representative of Tsimane adults aged 40 and older) represent well the average life course of individuals; and

The Tsimane are representative of the baseline case prior to urbanization;

these results suggest a ~70% increase in the rates of age-dependent BV decrease accompanying industrialized lifestyles.

Despite its limitations, this study suggests:

Brain atrophy may be slowed substantially by lifestyles associated with very low CVD risk; and

There is ample scope for interventions to improve brain health, even in the presence of chronically high systemic inflammation.

Lastly, the slow rate of age-dependent BV decrease in the Tsimane raises new questions about dementia, given the role of both infections and vascular factors in dementia risk.”

https://gurven.anth.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/papers/irimiaetal2021.pdf “The indigenous South American Tsimane exhibit relatively modest decrease in brain volume with age despite high systemic inflammation”

I came across this study by its citation in Dr. Paul Clayton’s 2021 blog post We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.

Resistant starch therapy

August 5, 2021January 4, 2022 gettingwell4 5+ stars Premium, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Control group, Genetic factors

This 2021 review subject was interactions among resistant starches and gut microbiota:

“Starch that reaches the large intestine without being fully digested is termed resistant starch (RS). Starch digestibility should be considered as a kinetic property (slower to faster) affected by host-specific factors, rather than as a binary trait (resistant or nonresistant).

RS is degraded by the colon’s complex ecosystem of microbes, triggering a cascading web of metabolic interactions. RS acts as a resource that is degraded and fermented by a hierarchy of specialized gut microbes:

Primary degraders grow on RS in monoculture. They penetrate outer surfaces of intact RS granules, exposing pores and deeper concentric matrices while liberating oligosaccharides and generating metabolites like lactate and acetate.

Secondary degraders grow on starch in monoculture, but degrade intact RS poorly or not at all. Instead, they may adhere to abrasions and pores on RS before participating in its degradation, and opportunistically utilize solubilized oligosaccharides produced by other RS degraders.

Cross-feeders do not grow on starch in monoculture. They utilize by-products generated by upstream degraders, helping to maintain stoichiometric equilibrium and thermodynamically favorable (i.e. unconstrained) fermentation.

Together, the subsystem of microbes involved in RS degradation and fermentation participates in a complex network of cross-feeding interactions. In maintaining microbiome homeostasis, the RS nutrient web expands the scope of what could be considered a ‘beneficial’ gut microbe to a cluster of metabolically interconnected microbes.

1. Primary degraders such as acetate-producing Ruminococcus bromii are thought to be necessary for RS degradation in the human gut, where they unlock RS for other community members to degrade and ferment.

2. Secondary degraders possess extracellular amylases to degrade regular starch, but their contribution to initiating RS degradation is negligible compared to that of primary degraders. Instead, they may require primary degraders to erode smooth RS granule surfaces before adhering to RS and/or scavenging for ‘substrate spillover’ (i.e. excess oligosaccharides generated by primary degraders).

3. Cross-feeders utilize starch by-products or metabolites generated by upstream RS degraders, such as acetate, lactate, formate, and succinate. Describing all known gut bacteria capable of utilizing these substrates exceeds the scope of this review, but one other example is noteworthy.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a prominent butyrate-producing commensal, comprising 1.5% to 9.5% of fecal bacteria in European individuals. F. prausnitzii utilizes maltose and acetate to generate butyrate.

Microbiome sequencing data are compositional, meaning that gene amplicon read counts do not necessarily reflect bacterial absolute abundances. Instead, read counts are typically normalized to sum to 100%.

For this reason, relative abundances of smaller keystone communities (e.g. primary degraders) may increase, but appear to decrease simply because cross-feeders increase in relative abundance to a greater extent. These limitations illustrate the necessity of sufficiently powering RS interventions where microbiome composition is the primary endpoint, collecting critical baseline data and employing appropriate statistical techniques.”

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2021.1926842 “Resistant starch, microbiome, and precision modulation”

Don’t count on broccoli compounds bailing out a high-fat diet’s effects on gut microbiota

August 4, 2021August 5, 2021 gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress Control group, Embryo development, Genetic factors

Two rodent studies of mature broccoli and broccoli sprouts’ effects on a high-fat diet, with the first from 2021 investigating broccoli florets and stalks:

“Addition of broccoli florets to a HFD ameliorated insulin sensitivity. Florets further promoted gut microbiota diversity and low-grade inflammatory-associated strains.

Stalk supplementation also altered gut microbiota, leading to increased Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and levels of communities that preserve mucus layer and gut integrity while simultaneously decreasing levels of potentially harmful species.

Addition of broccoli to a HFD did not ameliorate body and tissues weight gain or food intake. Both broccoli stalks and florets did not affect fat accumulation, carbohydrate, or lipid metabolism-related parameters.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.680241/full “Broccoli Florets Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Alters Gut Microbiome Population – A Steatosis Mice Model Induced by High-Fat Diet”

A 2020 study cited by this first study investigated compounds extracted from 1-day-old broccoli sprouts:

“Bioaccessibility of aliphatic glucosinolates was shown to 76.2 ± 0.6%:

Glucoraphanin was the predominant glucosinolate with the highest bioaccessibility in broccoli, and could effectively prevent HFD-induced body weight gain in mice, especially increases in liver weight and the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes. Furthermore, supplementation with glucoraphanin reduced the level of oxidative stress, regulated genes of FAS, PPARα, CPT1 and ACOX associated with lipid metabolism, and might be associated with changes in composition of gut microbiota.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.680241/full “Effect of glucoraphanin from broccoli seeds on lipid levels and gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice”

This study’s title was “Effect of glucoraphanin from broccoli seeds..” although its Materials and methods section disclosed:

“1 day after germination from broccoli seeds, sprouts were boiled in water for 30 min. The resulting aqueous extract was processed by liquid solid separation and condensation and was subsequently spray-dried to yield an extract powder containing 249 mg glucoraphanin.”

Eat broccoli sprouts every day and its predecessor study demonstrated that broccoli intake every day had beneficial effects during shorter periods than either of these studies.

Both studies had many “may”, “could”, and “might” statements. Not sure that broccoli compounds / gut microbiota relationships are adequately investigated by choosing a few out of tens of thousands of gut microbiota species as both studies attempted to do.

There are too many additive / antagonistic / synergistic combinations to analyze even before reaching twenty gut microbiota species. But researchers aren’t often sponsored for studies unless they conform to existing research.

I haven’t made headway in understanding my top 10 of 42,156 gut microbiota species’ exact causes, effects, and interactions. The top three by themselves are considered beneficial:

Uncertainty is fine for now, though, with a 40-hour work week interfering. Finding out what my gut microbiota generally want and giving that to them has been a productive approach this year.

Part 3 of Make your gut microbiota happy

August 1, 2021August 17, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Happiness, Reciprocity

Continuing from Part 2, my 7/15/2021 sample found that no bad bacteria needed work. Top three reasons why this may be are:

1. I’ve eaten microwaved broccoli sprouts every day for 68 weeks now. Relevant research:

Curated Eat broccoli sprouts instead of antibiotics back in May after adding red cabbage sprouts and mustard sprouts; and
Broccoli sprouts’ immune effects.

2. This is the 17^th year of training my immune system every day with yeast cell wall β-glucan.

3. Basic hygiene practices such as brushing my teeth twice a day.

Make your gut microbiota happy

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress Happiness, Reciprocity

Updating a chain started from New Year’s Day. Analysis will take a while, with 42,156 species detected:

Breakfast, osprey style:

Dive, dive, dive!

Surface, surface, surface!

Bring home the bacon.

Back pain and advanced glycation end products (AGEs)

July 18, 2021July 19, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress Control group, Genetic factors

Two 2020 rodent studies investigated intervertebral disk degeneration, with the first on AGEs’ role:

“This study evaluated the role of AGEs and RAGE in driving early intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration processes in mice. Aging and diabetes are associated with increased low-back pain and IVD degeneration, yet causal mechanisms remain uncertain. AGEs:

Accumulate in IVDs from aging;

Are implicated in diabetes-related disorders;

Alter collagen; and

Induce proinflammatory conditions.

A mixed population of 23 male and female wild type AC57BL/6J mice were each assigned to two isocaloric diet groups after weaning. They received either low-AGE chow containing 7.6 μg/mg AGE, or high-AGE chow containing 40.9 μg/mg AGE generated via high-temperature heating (NIH-31 open formula chow autoclaved for 30 minutes at 120°C [248° F]). This in vivo dietary model was previously shown to increase IVD AGE accumulation without systemic obesity or diabetes.

AGE accumulation leads to RAGE-dependent collagen disruption in the annulus fibrosus, and can initiate molecular and tissue level collagen disruption. Second harmonic generation (SHG) and collagen-hybridizing peptide (CHP) analyzes were sensitive to collagenous alterations at multiple hierarchical levels due to AGE.

These methods may be useful in identifying additional contributors to collagen damage in IVD degeneration processes.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.1126 “Advanced glycation end products cause RAGE-dependent annulus fibrosus collagen disruption and loss identified using in situ second harmonic generation imaging in mice intervertebral disk in vivo and in organ culture models”

Other human studies found degenerative spine disorders start at detectable levels during adolescence. Those study designs didn’t trace disc degeneration to diet, though.

A second study was summarized in a conference I’m sure researchers would like to reconvene:

“Kritschil et al investigated the role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling on progression of disc degeneration in aging mice. They showed that diminished IGF-1 bioavailability confers both beneficial effects of decreased disc cell senescence and extracellular matrix catabolism, whilst at the same time negatively impacting proteoglycan production.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.1134 “Advancing basic and preclinical spine research: Highlights from the ORS PSRS 5th International Spine Research Symposium”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.1112 “Effects of suppressing bioavailability of insulin-like growth factor on age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration”

This study asserted:

“Despite some inconsistent findings on the role of IGF-1 among human centenarian and animal model studies, there is overwhelming evidence to support that disruptions to the IGF-1 signaling pathway promotes healthy longevity.”

See Take responsibility for your one precious life – DHEA for other evidence on IGF-1.

Spent a large part of this weekend reading abstracts and studies concerning diet interactions with spinal disc degeneration. This AGE study provided more evidence than others on these relationships.

I’ve eaten AGE-less chicken vegetable soup almost every day for two years:

237 g chicken breast cubes, 179 g celery, and 262 g carrots in 1 cup Savignon Blanc get up to 100° C around 9 minutes initially, then again about 6 minutes after I add 1 quart chicken broth, then I turn off the Instant Pot.
I stir in 340 g mushrooms, 31 g garlic, and 387 g Roma tomatoes five minutes later at about 85° C, and they cool the soup down to around 70° C. I let it stew for another 15 minutes before eating half (1.5 quarts).
A 1.5 quart leftover heated the next day for six minutes in a 1000W microwave reaches 55° C.

I do stretches every day to accommodate a L5-S1 disc replacement with a titanium-cage-and-rods apparatus done ten years ago, and a C5-C6-C7 similar operation done eleven years ago. Can’t say whether recent diet, last decades’ disc replacement surgeries, daily stretches and exercises, or other factors are responsible for absence of spine pain.

ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA ratio

July 16, 2021October 2, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress Control group, Genetic factors, Neurodegenerative disease

Three human-evidenced publications on omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with the first a 2021 blog post that cited 72 references:

“In the area of heart health, which is why most consumers swallow fish oil, the data is hopelessly conflicted:

One meta-analyses found that protective effects were dose-related, which is always persuasive;

In marked contrast, three recent powerful clinical trials found fish oil to have no effects on cardiovascular pathology in either primary or secondary prevention; and

Yet another meta-analysis found null results, except for a slight degree of protection in subjects who had gallantly taken fish oil supplements for over ten years.

Can these all be right? I think they can, based on secondary bioavailability.

Levels of omega 3s in the bloodstream are irrelevant, except in terms of their calorie content. That is not where they do their anti-inflammatory thing. They become precursors for resolvins, maresins, protectins, and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids only after they have been incorporated into the host’s cell membranes.

Getting them into cell membranes is secondary bioavailability (or bio-efficacy), and this is a much more complicated procedure. Seafood does it, but fish oil doesn’t.

Specifically, there is something in oily fish which enables secondary bioavailability, but which is missing in commercial fish oils. That something is a lipophillic polyphenol called phlorotannin.”

https://drpaulclayton.eu/blog/fish-oil-upgrade-to-snake-oil/ “Fish Oil? Upgrade to Snake Oil!”

A second paper was a 2021 review that focused on ratios of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFAs:

“Chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease are rising exponentially in the modern world. Though these diseases are multifactorial in nature, their prevalence is mostly associated with an unbalanced increase in dietary n-6 PUFAs and decrease in n-3 PUFAs.

Mostly, these diseases escalate on the fact that inflammation in conjunction with obesity is the basis of every chronic disease.

Considering antagonistic effects of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, both n-3 and n-6 SC-PUFAs and LC-PUFAs in their proportional ratio with each other, which is close to 4:1, play a significant role in regulating body homeostasis of inflammation and anti-inflammation, vasodilation and vasoconstriction, bronchoconstriction and bronchodilation, and platelet aggregation and antiaggregation.”

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jl/2021/8848161/ “Overconsumption of Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) versus Deficiency of Omega-3 PUFAs in Modern-Day Diets: The Disturbing Factor for Their ‘Balanced Antagonistic Metabolic Functions’ in the Human Body”

A third paper was a 2020 human adolescent study:

“Obese youth 9–19 y of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were treated to see whether 12 wk of a low n–6:n–3 PUFA ratio (4:1) normocaloric diet mitigated fatty liver.

Independent of weight loss, a low n–6:n–3 PUFA diet ameliorated the metabolic phenotype of adolescents with fatty liver disease. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01556113.”

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/150/9/2314/5870325 “A Low ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA Ratio (n–6:n–3 PUFA) Diet to Treat Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Youth”

My ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA 4 : 1 (1400 / 350) intake at breakfast and dinner via Balance Oil:

At lunch I eat an ounce of walnuts with a ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA 4.4 : 1 ratio:

A time to speak

July 15, 2021December 18, 2022 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Glutamate, Immune system, Memory, Neurochemicals Neurodegenerative disease

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to dance, and a time to mourn;
A time you may embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to keep silent, and a time to speak.”

A review from 2017:

“Few, if any, other drugs can rival ivermectin for its beneficial impact on human health and welfare. Perhaps more than any other drug, ivermectin is a drug for the world’s poor. For most of this century, some 250 million people have been taking it.

The following are an indication of disease-fighting potential that has been identified for ivermectin thus far:

Antiviral – Ivermectin has been found to potently inhibit replication of yellow fever virus, with EC₅₀ values in the sub-nanomolar range. It inhibits replication in several other flaviviruses, including dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis. Ivermectin interrupts virus replication. It demonstrates antiviral activity against several RNA viruses by blocking nuclear trafficking of viral proteins. It has been shown to have potent antiviral action against HIV-1.

Asthma – Ivermectin suppressed mucus hypersecretion by goblet cells, establishing that ivermectin can effectively curb inflammation, such that it may be useful in treating allergic asthma and other inflammatory airway diseases.

Bedbugs – Ivermectin is highly effective against bedbugs, capable of eradicating or preventing bedbug infestations.

Disease vector control – Ivermectin is highly effective in killing a broad range of insects. Comprehensive testing against 84 species of insects showed that avermectins were toxic to almost all insects tested. At sub-lethal doses, ivermectin inhibits feeding and disrupts mating behavior, oviposition, egg hatching, and development.

Malaria – Mosquitoes that transmit Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous malaria-causing parasite, can be killed by ivermectin present in the human bloodstream after a standard oral dose.

Myiasis – Myiasis is an infestation of fly larvae that grow inside the host. Oral myiasis has been successfully treated with ivermectin, which has also been effective as a non-invasive treatment for orbital myiasis, a rare and preventable ocular morbidity.

Schistosomiasis – Schistosoma species are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a disease afflicting more than 200 million people worldwide. Ivermectin helps control one of the world’s major neglected tropical diseases.

Trichinosis – Globally, approximately 11 million individuals are infected with Trichinella roundworms. Ivermectin kills Trichinella spiralis, the species responsible for most of these infections.”

https://www.nature.com/articles/ja201711 “Ivermectin: enigmatic multifaceted ‘wonder’ drug continues to surprise and exceed expectations”

72 citations in CrossRef. Didn’t see citing 2020-2021 papers that noted any safety concerns when administered at proper doses.

Train your immune system every day, because:

“Rapid clearance following ivermectin dosing, results not from direct impact of the drug, but via suppression of a parasite’s ability to evade the host’s natural immune defense mechanisms.”

It’s safe, and it’s effective. Ivermectin’s main difficulty is that its patent expired in 1997.

Improving gut barriers

July 13, 2021July 17, 2025 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress Control group, Embryo development, Genetic factors, Infants, Neurodegenerative disease

Three papers on gut barriers, with the first a 2020 review of four intestinal barrier layers:

“The epithelial cell layer and outer/inner mucin layer constitute the physical barrier. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced by epithelial cells and antibacterial proteins secreted by Paneth cells represent the functional barrier.

Multiple layers of this barrier, from intestinal lumen to systemic circulation, include:

Luminal intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) that dephosphorylates bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to detoxify it;

Mucus layer that provides a physical barrier preventing interactions between gut bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells;

Tight junctions between epithelial cells that limit paracellular transport of bacteria and/or bacterial products to systemic circulation; and

Antibacterial proteins secreted by specialized intestinal epithelial cells or Paneth cells, and IgA [immunoglobulin A] secreted by immune cells present in lamina propria underlying the epithelial cell layer.

The presence of LPS in systemic circulation is identified as a causal or complicating factor in diverse diseases such as:

Diet-induced metabolic diseases;

Autism;

Alzheimer’s disease;

Parkinson’s disease;

Arthritis;

Obesity-induced osteoarthritis;

Asthma; and

Several autoimmune diseases.

Causal relationships between circulating LPS levels and development of multiple diseases underscore the importance of changes in intestinal barrier layers associated with disease development.

Correcting intestinal barrier dysfunction to modulate multiple diseases can be envisioned as a viable therapeutic option. Identifying precise defects by use of specific biomarkers would facilitate targeted interventions.”

https://academic.oup.com/jes/article/4/2/bvz039/5741771 “Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction, LPS Translocation, and Disease Development”

A second 2020 review focused on IAP:

“IAP plays a vital role in intestinal barrier function, affecting bicarbonate secretion, duodenal surface pH, nutrient resorption, local intestinal inflammation, and gut microbiota. Disturbances of IAP functions are associated with persistent inflammatory diseases associated with aging (i.e.,inflammageing), inflammatory bowel diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Expression and activity of IAP are directly affected by food intake, i.e., quantity and type of macro- and micronutrients including vitamins and other bioactive nutrients, or by absence of food, as well as indirectly by composition of gut microbiota that in turn are highly dependent on food intake. Increased IAP gene expression and activity promoting detoxification of LPS may lead to improvement of both intestinal and systemic inflammation, reduced bacteria translocation, and maintaining gut barrier function.

IAP could be used as an inflammatory marker together with other markers, such as interleukins, to predict inflammation and diseases that are based on chronic inflammatory processes.”

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13167-020-00228-9 “Intestinal alkaline phosphatase modulation by food components: predictive, preventive, and personalized strategies for novel treatment options in chronic kidney disease” (not freely available)

A third paper was a 2021 rodent study by coauthors of the first paper:

“We developed intestine-specific IAP transgenic mice (IAP^Tg) overexpressing human chimeric IAP to examine direct effects of increased IAP expression on barrier function and development of metabolic diseases. We evaluated effects of intestine-specific IAP overexpression in hyperlipidemic Ldlr^−/− mice. The data presented demonstrated significant attenuation of Western-type diet (WD)-induced LPS translocation in Ldlr^−/−IAP^Tg mice, with significant reduction in intestinal lipid absorption, hyperlipidemia, hepatic lipids, and development of atherosclerotic lesions.

IAP is produced by enterocytes, and catalyzes removal of 1 of the 2 phosphate groups from the toxic lipid A moiety of LPS. This produces monophosphoryl-LPS, and results in attenuation of the downstream TLR (Toll-like receptor)-4–dependent inflammatory cascade.

IAP also:

Dephosphorylates other proinflammatory molecules such as flagellin and ATP, resulting in their detoxification;

Regulates expression of key gap junction proteins (zonula occludens, claudin, and occludin) and their cellular localization, which directly modulates intestinal barrier function;

Promotes growth of various commensal bacteria in the gut by decreasing luminal concentrations of nucleotide triphosphates via dephosphorylation; and

Translocates from the apical surface of enterocytes during fat absorption. Increased serum IAP accompanies fat absorption, which is consistent with observed increased levels of circulating LPS in WD-fed mice, providing one more likely mechanism by which WD affects intestinal barrier function via IAP.

Nutrients and food components/supplements that increase IAP include galacto- or chito- oligosaccharides, glucomannan, and vitamin D3. These provide a novel opportunity to develop simple strategies for modulation of diet/nutrition to target metabolic diseases including diabetes, fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and heart disease.”

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317144 “Over-Expression of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase Attenuates Atherosclerosis”

Previously curated IAP studies were:

Berry polyphenols

July 12, 2021 gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Immune system, Stress Control group, Genetic factors

This 2021 review subject was berries and health:

“Phenolic compounds present in different berries (raspberry, blueberry, goji berry, black currant, strawberry, cranberry, and blackberry) were summarized based on up-to-date information and their beneficial health effects. Compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids occur in different concentrations depending on berry type.

Polyphenols are the ‘new’ prebiotics. A more recent definition of prebiotics is ‘a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms and conferring a health benefit.’

Only 5–10% of total intake is absorbed in the small intestine. Remainders can reach the large intestinal lumen, where they may be subjected to gut microbial community enzymatic activities. Microbiota can catabolize flavonoids that have not been absorbed into smaller molecules, such as phenolic and aromatic acids, which can then be absorbed by intestinal villi.

Increase of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroidetes, decrease of Firmicutes, and production of short-chain fatty acids is almost consensus among studies. More in vivo data are required to understand mechanisms of action, while clinical trials using different characteristics (i.e., gender, age, existence of diseases) should be performed so new information on bioactivity of berries can be unveiled.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214799321001028 “Berry polyphenols and human health: evidence of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, microbiota modulation, and cell-protecting effects (not freely available) Thanks to Dr. Anderson S. Sant’Ana for providing a copy.

It’s summer, and time to gorge on berries! We’ll deal with overindulgences later.