Endocrine Wellness

You can’t keep your brain healthy without it…you can’t make your steroid hormones without it….it helps repair cell membranes and a slew of other things! QUIT SHOOTING THE MESSENGER!!! If the lipids “seem” out of balance, let’s figure out why!

Eat your apples!🍎

An apple a day, or perhaps two, really does keep the doctor away. A recent study determined the sustained and acute effects of a red-fleshed apple (RFA), rich in anthocyanins (ACNs), a white-fleshed apple (WFA) without ACNs, and an infusion from Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry, AI) with an equivalent content of ACNs as the red-fleshed apple, on different cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in hypercholesterolaemic patients. A randomised, parallel study was performed for 6 weeks. After the 6 weeks, RFA consumption improved ischaemic reactive hyperaemia and decreased C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 compared to WFA consumption. Moreover, at 6 weeks, AI decreased P-selectin compared to WFA and improved the lipid profile. Although both RFA and AI had a similar ACN content, RFA, by a matrix effect, induced more improvements in inflammation, whereas AI improved the lipid profile.

There is also good clinical evidence that normal apples lower cholesterol. For example, an interesting study found that the intake of whole apples or clear apple juice had contrasting effects on plasma lipids in healthy volunteers
A comprehensive 5 × 4 weeks dietary crossover study was chosen to assess the effects of whole apples (550 g/day), apple pomace (22 g/day), clear and cloudy apple juices (500 mL/day), or no supplement on lipoproteins and blood pressure in a group of 23 healthy volunteers.

Trends towards a lower serum LDL-concentration were observed after whole apple (by 6.7%), pomace (7.9%) and cloudy juice (2.2%) intake. On the other hand, LDL-cholesterol concentrations increased by 6.9% with clear juice compared to whole apples and pomace. There was no effect on HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, inflammation (hs-CRP), composition of the gut microbiota or markers of glucose metabolism (insulin, IGF1 and IGFBP3).

The authors suggested that apples are rich in polyphenols and pectin, two potentially bioactive constituents; however, these constituents segregate differently during processing into juice products and clear juice is free of pectin and other cell wall components. They concluded that the fibre component is necessary for the cholesterol-lowering effect of apples in healthy humans and that clear apple juice may not be a suitable surrogate for the whole fruit in nutritional recommendations.

For more information see:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38751340/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23271615/

This is a little bit of a read but please take the time to get through it! Herbal medicine is incredibly safe. And I DO believe quality matters and all companies that sell herbs do not sell the highest quality or dosing is well below anything that could possibly be therapeutic! This article has been retracted due to problems within the study but it will most likely be brought back up when someone wants to say that herbal medicine is unsafe or unreliable. Herbal support is a key part of my practice and the positive results my patients experience. To learn more, please follow Kerry Bone.

In November 2013, the open access journal BMC Medicine carried an article by Canadian authors entitled “DNA barcoding detects contaminants and substitution in North American herbal products”. In their abstract, the authors claimed that a survey of 44 herbal products representing 12 companies (sourced from the Toronto area) found:

• Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels

• Product substitution occurred in 30 of the 44 products

• Some of the contaminants found posed serious health risks.

On the face of it, this looked like a major issue for the herbal industry and needless to say the media went into its usual feeding frenzy. Articles were featured in The New York Times and USA Today. However, a close analysis of the study revealed a number of basic methodological and interpretive flaws, casting serious doubt on the findings of the study. The article also spurred the New York Attorney General to issue cease and desist letters to herbal companies and was the basis of lawsuits against these companies.

In 2022, I reported in a Grumpy Old Herbalist video how the scientific validity and integrity of the study had been questioned by several experts. Now the editor of BMC Medicine has finally retracted the paper. The retraction came as a result of an investigation by the University of Guelph (only after the insistence of key academics) that found evidence of data fabrication.

“The Editor has retracted this article. An investigation by the University of Guelph has found evidence of data fabrication in relation to this article. The Editor therefore no longer has confidence in the presented data,” the editorial office stated, noting that the authors of the study disagree with the retraction.

According to authors at the time, most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, “including considerable product substitution, contamination, and use of fillers,” with calls for the herbal industry to embrace DNA barcoding analysis as a means of authenticating products.

The article stirred up much controversy, as industry members noted that DNA testing may not be appropriate for herbal extracts due to the fact that DNA is destroyed or damaged during the process of extracting phytochemicals from a herb.

At the time of the study’s publication, Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) challenged the study authors’ findings in a letter to BMC Medicine’s editor, due to the fact that DNA barcoding analysis had not been validated as a verification method for the tested herbs, and “blanket assertions about the accuracy of this novel analytical tool are premature.”

“As we pointed out at the time of its publication, Dr. Newmaster’s article contained significant inaccuracies, including the false claim that no best practices exist for identifying herbal ingredients, contrary to FDA regulations,” McGuffin said recently. “Furthermore, the premature endorsement of DNA barcoding without acknowledging its limitations misled readers.”

This is just one example of how poor science has been applied to impute the quality and safety of the medicinal use of plants. Unfortunately, most of these flawed studies have not been retracted, and from time to time they are trotted out by those with vested interests to unfairly damage the reputation of herbal medicine.
For more information see: https://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2024-07-09/bmc-medicine-editor-retracts-article-on-dna-barcoding-which-questioned-integrity-of-herbs?utm_campaign=NUT+eNewsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Y5qZxqPXCaEOWy_fPrm5Ujl54mRYTvHqPt8HmAe1ULx5xyjnBlCbq1cKn_5eMGBykJkZbiE9FyouU5g6zKr8O2-uqWA&_hsmi=315334380&utm_content=315334380&utm_source=hs_email

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24120035/

There’s always a choice. 🤗♥️

I LOVE THIS ANALOGY:
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Because someone bumped into me!!!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.
Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies?
Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.

- author unknown

Sadly true…

Happy Friday! It’s time to clear up some misinformation about Ashwaganda root from Withania somnifera. Ashwaganda contains naturally occurring steroidal saponins, alkaloids and other phytochemicals that produce a tonic and adaptogenic effect for the entire body. High quality Ashwaganda should contain an adequate amount of withanolides for optimal strength and quality.

It is one of my favorite herbs where support is needed for the thyroid AND adrenals! It is immune modulating, anti-anemic, anti-inflammatory, mild sedative which helps with anxiety and insomnia. It can be a key herb for debility, chronic fatigue or even for improved physical performance!!! So so many benefits!!!

BUT due to its popularity it is also one of the most adulterated herbs. That means it can have similar herbs substituted or different parts of the plant might be used instead of the root. So you don’t actually receive the expected benefits; or in some cases, maybe react to what was added to it or it could contain toxins or other impurities. Quality is KEY!

Now let’s clear up the misunderstanding about Ashwaganda and the night shade family. Night shades are a large family of plants that contain alkaloids. And Ashwaganda does contain Alkaloids as well. But here is the big difference…when an individual reacts to night shades, they are reacting to solanine which is an inflammatory compound. Ashwaganda DOES NOT contain solanine and is actually ANTI-inflammatory!!! Very big difference! So if you have a night shade sensitivity, you can take Ashwaganda!!!!

Endocrine Wellness will be closed after 5pm CST on Friday June 28 until 10am CST Tuesday July 9. All correspondence will be returned/answered in the order they were received when we are back in office.

If you need to order Standard Process or MediHerb supplements and do not want to wait, feel free to use the "Buy Supplements" link on our website, endocrinewellnessgroup.com, while we are gone.

Note: liquid herbal tonics and products from other companies cannot be ordered through this link; those will be filled upon our return.

If you do place your order through our website, please let us know! That way we know it has been taken care of and do not send duplicate supplements!

Have a great holiday!

Doing a quick interview at Standard Process Inc. before Dr. Annette’s talk this afternoon! 🎥 ✨🎬

Part 2 on Shatavari!

Continuing the theme of Shatavari in menopause, two studies from the same research group in the UK have found that this herb has the potential to improve muscle strength, function and health in postmenopausal women. These studies appear to support the traditional use of this herb as a female tonic and provide an early suggestion that it might have a role in preventing sarcopenia in older women.

The first study showed that six weeks of Shatavari treatment improved handgrip strength and increased markers of myosin contractile function. In a randomised, double blind trial, 20 postmenopausal women (68.5 ± 6 years) ingested either placebo (n = 10) or Shatavari (n = 10; 1000 mg/day of extract, equivalent to 26,500 mg/day fresh weight Shatavari) for 6 weeks. Handgrip and knee extensor strength were measured at baseline and at 6 weeks. Vastus lateralis (VL) biopsy samples were also obtained.

Results are presented as difference scores (Week 6 minus baseline, median ± interquartile range). Handgrip (but not knee extensor) strength was improved by Shatavari treatment (Shatavari +0.7 ± 1.1 kg, placebo -0.4 ± 1.3 kg; p = 0.04). Myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation, a known marker of improved myosin contractile function, was increased in VL following Shatavari. Shatavari supplementation did not alter plasma markers of bone turnover and osteoblast activity.

The authors concluded that Shatavari may improve muscle function and contractility via a myosin conformational change but did not alter markers of bone turnover.
In the second study the authors performed tandem mass tagged global proteomics on skeletal muscle samples that remained from their original Shatavari trial (above) in postmenopausal women. Given their previous work, and that of others, they hypothesised that Shatavari might increase the levels of proteins associated with muscle protein synthesis and myosin function.

Tandem mass tag global proteomic analysis of VL samples was conducted (n = 7 shatavari, n = 5 placebo). Data were normalised to total peptides and scaled using a reference sample.

Analysis of results indicated that pathways related to the following were all significantly upregulated by Shatavari:
(1) Integrin/MAPK signalling
(2) metabolism/insulin secretion
(3) cell proliferation/senescence/DNA repair/cell death
(4) haemostasis/platelets/fibrin
(5) signal transduction
(6) neutrophil degranulation
(7) chemical synapse function

The authors suggested that their analyses indicate that Shatavari may support muscle adaptation responses to exercise and their data provide useful signposts for future investigation of Shatavari's utility in conserving and enhancing musculoskeletal function in older age.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959836/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38214710/

I love this herb! Especially in combination with other herbs such as Wild Yam, Black Cohosh, St. John’s Wort, Sage and Korean Ginseng. ♥️. What I think is important to note about the study is that the longer they took Shatavari root extract, there was a continued decrease in many menopausal symptoms. I feel like so many people are looking for a quick fix and end up missing out on the restorative and balancing effects of herbs!

Shatavari is now commonly used by Western herbal clinicians for the management of the menopausal transition. This is even though clinical trials supporting this use have been largely lacking. Now a recent clinical study found a full-spectrum Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) extract (500 mg/day of extract for 60 days) was associated with improvements in self-reported menopausal symptoms in a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study involving 70 women between the ages of 40 and 65. The findings were published in Cureus – Journal of Medical Sciences. The Shatavari root extract was standardised to contain no less than 5% shatavarins as determined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). These are steroidal saponins unique to the plant.

The primary outcome measure for the trial was the total score of the Utian Quality of Life (UQoL) scale on days 30 and 60 of the trial. Increases in the total score by 16.5 (23.2%) and 24.9 (35.1%) on days 30 and day 60, respectively, were observed in the active (herbal product) group. Statistically significant intragroup differences between active and placebo were found on both day 30 (p < 0.0001) and day 60 (p < 0.0001). The total UQoL score in the placebo group was largely unchanged throughout the trial. This is a potential weakness of the trial, as normally a placebo effect is observed in these instances.

The treatment group also experienced reductions in the most experienced symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, fatigue and insomnia) compared to those in the placebo group. Highlights included an 85% reduction in hot flushes by day 30; a 90% reduction in night sweats on day 60, and a 60% reduction in reported sleeplessness compared to placebo. These results were significant compared with placebo, despite a strong placebo effect generally being observed for these parameters.

The authors stated that va**nal dryness, which causes the sensation of burning/itching of the va**na, was experienced by fewer study participants in the active group than in the placebo group. Results were similarly positive for bladder weakness and urinary incontinence, where fewer participants experienced them in the active group. However, they provided no actual data related to this in the paper.

There were no significant adverse events reported by the treatment group, indicating that the extract was well-tolerated at the efficacious dose of 500 mg.

For more information see Shatavari Root Extract May Benefit Menopause Symptoms: Study | Nutraceuticals World and https://www.cureus.com/articles/235469-efficacy-and-safety-of-shatavari-root-extract-for-the-management-of-menopausal-symptoms-a-double-blind-multicenter-randomized-controlled-trial #!/

✨Dr. Annette is doing another Herbal Blending Masterclass!✨
You can either join us live on June 1 or watch later, because everyone who registers will receive the notes, recording of the class, and Dr. Annette's Herbal Blending Cookbook with over 70 tonic recipes!
🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Register at the link below to reserve your spot today!!

Herbal Blending Masterclass Join Dr. Annette for a practitioner only 4-hour virtual masterclass on everything you need to know about liquid herbal blending! When you purchase receive the link to attend via Zoom, PHYSICAL Herbal Blending Cookbook (will be mailed), and a recording to watch later!

I love this herb! I have found that it pairs well with nervine tonics to help quiet the mind for sleep too. What I learned years ago is that you need to give it at least 2 weeks of continuous use to see how well it will work for an individual. I have to say that I haven’t seen any adverse reactions in any of my patients.

There is a desperate need to find safe and effective remedies for poor quality sleep and sleep deprivation, which are linked to many diseases and negative socioeconomic issues. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is a traditional herb known to address various sleep-related complaints, but recent well-conducted trials are few.

In a trial delivering standout results for a high-quality valerian extract, researchers in India enrolled 80 adults for an 8-week double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, clinical study. Primary efficacy endpoints included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep latency using wrist actigraphy (WA), as well as a number of secondary endpoints, including sleep parameters such as actual sleep time and sleep efficiency using WA, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for the feeling of waking up refreshed, and a tertiary endpoint of sleep parameters using polysomnography (PSG) in a subset of 20 people per group.
Participants were either given a placebo or 200 mg of a valerian extract containing 2% total valerenic acids. This dose corresponds to 1.5 to 4 g of valerian root and rhizome, depending on quality.

The study found a marked and significant improvement in overall sleep quality, latency, efficiency, total sleep time, decreased anxiety and daytime sleepiness, and increased satisfaction. PSG results demonstrated that the valerian treatment substantially and significantly improved the duration of NREM sleep.

During the study, 12 adverse events were reported by 8 people (10%): 5 were reported by 3 people (7.5%) in the valerian group, and 7 by 5 people (12.5%) in the placebo group. Those in the valerian group reported one event each of upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, headache, viral fever, and loose motion, while two events of fever and one each of upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, headache, gastritis, and common cold were reported by those in the placebo group. Valerian has a reputation for worsening sleep in a few sensitive individuals, but interestingly there were no reports of sleep aggravation for the valerian group.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37899385/

We continue to learn more about the polyphenol category of phytochemicals, especially the specific class known as anthocyanins. Foods that are pigmented as blue, purple, black, and red have higher amounts of these compounds. These colorful foods are precious in many ways and impart health benefits, especially regarding mood status.

A published study looked at the intake of anthocyanin by people with and without major depressive disorder (MDD). They found that there was an association between higher anthocyanin intake from the diet and lower depressive symptoms in people who had MDD and who did not have MDD.

Anthocyanins may have gut effects that go on to favorably alter brain chemistry. There is still much to understand, but in the meantime, it is a good idea to get the blue-purple-black-red part of the spectrum in everyday eating!

Mestrom A, et al. Higher anthocyanin intake is associated with lower depressive symptoms in adults with and without major depressive disorder. Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Nov 22;12(3):2202-2209. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3850. PMID: 38455191; PMCID: PMC10916648.

There has been a suggestion from some clinical trials that Ginkgo biloba leaf might improve glycaemic parameters in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. However, results have been inconsistent.

Hence scientists from China conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of Ginkgo among T2D patients. Four groups of parameters were extracted and analysed: hemorheology parameters, lipid profile, glycaemic control markers and adverse events.

After a comprehensive search, 13 eligible articles with 11 indicators among 1573 patients were included. In terms of hemorheology parameters, Ginkgo treatment resulted in significantly lower plasma viscosity (P < 0.01) and haematocrit (P < 0.01) than the control group. Ginkgo also showed higher velocity in the dorsalis pedis artery (P < 0.01) and ankle brachial index (ABI) (P < 0.01) than the control.
For both the lipid profile and glycaemic control markers sections, the analysis did not find any difference between Ginkgo and control groups, including for total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting serum glucose. In addition, there was no difference in adverse events (AE). Sensitivity analysis and funnel plot showed that the results of this research were robust and had no publication bias.

The authors concluded that Ginkgo might safely reduce the risk of peripheral arterial or even systemic cardiovascular disease in T2D patients. However, it did not directly improve lipid and blood glucose levels.

The findings highlight what we already know about Ginkgo: that it is a well proven herb for enhancing peripheral blood flow, in this case in patients with T2D, where this can be a significant factor in both morbidity and mortality.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38264278/

We are back in the Illinois office today! 🌱🌱🌱
Dr. Annette and Jess had a great time at The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute conference in Chicago. It was a weekend full of great information and great speakers, including the one and only godfather of functional medicine, Jeffrey Bland, PhD.
Dr. Annette even got to have a fan girl moment meeting Dr Jade Teta! 😊

A recent study was conducted to systematically review and summarise the results of clinical trials on the effect of sage (Salvia officinalis) on hot flushes (flashes) in postmenopausal women. Following the exclusion of irrelevant articles, 4 studies involving 310 women were included. Among them, 3 studies examined the effect of sage on the frequency and severity of hot flushes, but only one looked at the duration of hot flushes. All 4 reviewed studies indicated that the use of sage reduced the frequency and severity of hot flushes in postmenopausal women. However, meta-analysis showed that the effect of sage on the frequency of hot flushes was significant compared to placebo, but severity was not.

This work highlights the value of sage for hot flushes, but also shows it needs to be supported by other herbs that reduce their severity and duration.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37489230/

Just a reminder to our patients, the Illinois office will be closed Thursday, April 18 through Monday, April 22 while Dr. Annette and Jessica attend a conference in Chicago.

The Illinois office will be open Tuesday and Wednesday incase you need anything before they leave! ✨🌱✨

Acute viral pharyngitis is a self-limiting disease, but the symptoms, sore throat in particular, can affect quality of life. Medication for symptom relief is the main treatment. Recently, studies have shown that Andrographis paniculata was efficacious in treating several disorders, including upper respiratory infections. Hence Thai researchers decided to investigate whether an Andrographis spray could reduce acute viral pharyngitis. This randomised, double blind study enrolled 60 adult patients with acute viral pharyngitis. All patients were asked to score the severity of their symptoms including sore throat, difficulty swallowing and coughing using a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. A physical examination was also performed to score the severity of erythematous and swollen mucosa using a 0 to 3 score (0 = no, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe). Patients were randomised to receive treatment with either the Andrographis spray, or a positive control chamomile spray. The test formula contained 0.3% A. paniculata extract (strength of extract not specified), glycerine, ethanol and flavouring agents.

Results revealed a significant reduction in the severity of all signs and symptoms in both groups (p < 0.05). The severity of a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and coughing decreased significantly from day 1 after use of both sprays, and scores continued to decrease to nearly zero at the end of the assessment. For all of these symptoms the Andrographis spray outperformed the chamomile spray in terms of symptom severity. The percentage of responders on day 1 was 80% in the Andrographis spray group and 66.7% in the chamomile spray group. No adverse events were noted in either group. The authors concluded that Andrographis spray is safe and highly efficacious in treating acute viral pharyngitis and can reduce symptoms more rapidly than a positive control spray.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37821383/

Excellent review by Kerry Bone! There are some excellent herbs for when candida is more systemic. A few of my favorites are andrographis, cat’s claw, golden seal and garlic. I believe women can have a greater success if they also support the immune system from the inside out!

Vaginal yeast infections resulting from Candida albicans pathogenic overgrowth can be difficult to treat, especially when recurrent. In this setting the infection triggers a nonprotective neutrophil infiltration, aggressive local inflammation and symptomatic disease. Despite its prevalence, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underpinning the immunopathology of this common fungal infection (Candida causes an estimated half-billion cases of vulvova**nal candidiasis (VVC) every year). Scientists have recently found the molecular determinant of VVC immunopathology and a potentially straightforward way to prevent the disease.

In response to zinc limitation, C. albicans releases a trace mineral binding molecule called Pra1 (pH-regulated antigen). Experiments show that the gene PRA1 is up-regulated in response to local zinc limitation during va**nal yeast infection in mice. PRA1 expression was associated with va**nal tissue pathology and a local immune response, both of which were blocked in the models by PRA1 down-regulation or by topical zinc.

In a pilot study, a commercially available zinc gel (sold only as a va**nal moisturiser) alleviated symptoms and prevented reinfection in women with recurrent va**nal yeast infection. These findings suggest a potentially simple solution for the many women who suffer from recurrent va**nal candidiasis. Topical zinc may also play a role in treating and preventing other yeast infections.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38055800/

📣Attention Springfield Missouri! 📣
We have officially moved in to our new office at 2464 E Madrid St. 🎉

Polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of infertility around the world. The disorder is characterised by elevated secretion of androgens resulting in of ovarian enlargement with accumulation of fluid filled cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and hirsutism. A single-arm study assessed the efficacy of proprietary standardised fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract (1,000 mg/day) in 107 female volunteers (aged 18 to 45 years) over a period of 12 consecutive weeks.

The herbal treatment induced a greater than 40% reduction of mean cyst sizes in both ovaries, with a corresponding reduction in ovarian volumes. The LH:FSH ratio was also significantly improved, with a corresponding reduction in total testosterone and prolactin levels. As a result of this improvement in endocrine function, menstrual cycles became more regular in the trial participants. PCOS is also characterised by insulin resistance, and the fenugreek treatment also reduced its severity, together with significantly correcting dyslipidaemia and improving liver function.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36441141/

Excellent post! If you are about to be a mom or planning on it, you need to read this. There’s also evidence that points to the important role of having a va**nal delivery vs a C-section and how it impacts the infants immune system as well. And if you weren’t able to breast feed or have a va**nal delivery, there are so many natural alternatives to rebuild and strengthen the microbiome in your kiddos.

New research published in a high-level journal has found that delayed gut microbiota maturation in the first year of life is a hallmark of childhood allergic disease. This suggests that major childhood allergies may originate from gut bacteria. The study, among the first to investigate multiple paediatric allergies simultaneously, identified a bacterial signature in the gut linked to the development of eczema, asthma, food allergies and hay fever. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, implies that treatments to restore microbiota balance will potentially prevent allergies. Factors like infancy antibiotic use and breastfeeding influence this balance, providing further insights into potential allergy prevention.

The study was led by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and BC Children’s Hospital.

“We’re seeing more and more children and families seeking help at the emergency department due to allergies,” said Dr. Stuart Turvey, professor in the department of paediatrics at UBC and co-senior author on the study. “Hundreds of millions of children worldwide suffer from allergies, including one in three children in Canada, and it’s important to understand why this is happening and how it can be prevented.”

For the study, researchers examined clinical assessments from 1,115 children who were tracked from birth to age five. Roughly half of the children (523) had no evidence of allergies at any time, while more than half (592) were diagnosed with one or more allergic disorders by an expert physician. The researchers evaluated the children’s microbiomes from stool samples collected at clinical visits at three months and one year of age.

The stool samples revealed a bacterial signature that was associated with the children developing any of the four allergies by five years of age. The bacterial signature is a hallmark of dysbiosis that likely resulted in a compromised intestinal lining and an elevated inflammatory response within the gut.

Specifically, the study found impaired microbiota maturation that led to decreased butyrate production, compromised mucus integrity, elevated oxidative activity, decreased secondary fermentation and elevated trace amines.

“Typically, our bodies tolerate the millions of bacteria living in our guts because they do so many good things for our health. Some of the ways we tolerate them are by keeping a strong barrier between them and our immune cells and by limiting inflammatory signals that would call those immune cells into action,” says Courtney Hoskinson, a PhD candidate at UBC and first author on the paper. “We found a common breakdown in these mechanisms in babies prior to the development of allergies.”

“There are a lot of potential insights from this robust analysis,” says Dr. Turvey. “From these data, we can see that factors such as antibiotic usage in the first year of life are more likely to result in later allergic disorders, while breastfeeding for the first six months is protective. This was universal to all the allergic disorders we studied.”

For more information see:
https://scitechdaily.com/eczema-asthma-food-allergy-and-hay-fever-common-origin-discovered-behind-major-childhood-allergies/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37644001/