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Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
While not an absolute substitute for human studies, animal models are a scientifically accepted method of studying disease processes and treatments.
Background
Altered intestinal bacteria especially Clostridium difficile have been those implicated. One of the mechanisms postulated is that an overgrowth of certain bacteria including C. difficile produces greater amounts of propionic acid as well as bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) toxin.
Indeed propionic acid is known to produce autism like manifestations in rats. Antibiotic use increases the risk of an overgrowth of C. difficile and has been implicated in pathogenesis of autism.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Autism study objective
Dr. Ansary and colleagues wished to examine the neurotoxic effects of antibiotic induced dysbiosis as well as oral administration of propionic acid in hamsters and the protection against damage by carnosine and carnitine.
Autism study methods
54 hamsters were studied in different groups of experimental and controls. Neurotoxicity was induced by oral use of clindamycin or propionic acid. Further treatment groups included animals receiving carnosine 10mg/kg/d or carnitine 50 mg/kg/day for one week. At the end of experimental period, animals were sacrificed and the brain tissue examined.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Autism study results
- Clindamycin caused altered intestinal bacteria with overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria including Clostridia type.
- Both propionic acid and clindamycin treated animals shows DNA damage in the brain. DNA damage was greater in the propionic acid treated animals than clindamycin suggesting that propionic acid may effciently cross blood brain barrier.
- It also suggests that dysbiosis causes damage via production of propionic acid. The difference in damage due to clindamycin and propionic acid likely relates to higher propionate delivered when given directly in contrast to that produced by abnormal pathogenic bacterial overgrowth.
- Both carnosine and carnitine provided protection against DNA damage in brains in both animal models suggesting their potential therapeutic role in brain dysfunction like autism.
- Caveat: Animal studies only suggest possibilities which may or may not translate into applicability to humans.
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Dr. Minocha's comments on study implications
- Dysbiosis and antibiotics use play role in causing and/or sustaining brain dysfunction.
- Propionic acid may be one factor that links diet and gut bacteria in causing brain disorders.
- The fact that oral administration can affect brain damage suggests the importance of diet. Diet high in antioxidants may help.
- Antioxidants supplements may help in some especially those with unhealthy and picky eating habits.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
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