- About 2.9 Million People Worldwide Live With Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- MS Disease Severity Can Worsen Over Time.
- There are severe Risk Factors for MS, including diet and gut Health.
- A New Study driving in Mice Suggests that the ratio of two types of bacteria in the gut microbiome may be uble to predict Disease Severity.
Around 2.9 Million People Globally Live With Multiple Sclerosis (MS), A Chronic Neurological Disorder Where The Body’s Immune System Attacks The Central Nervous System.
People with MS Can Experience Different Levels of Disease Severity. MS Symptoms Can Also Flare Up, Worsen, Or Expand Over Time, to Phenomenon Known as more exacerbations.
There are a number of risk factors for ms, nonmodifiable including factors such genetics, and modifiable factors like smoking, vitamin d deficiency, diet, and gut Health. The LATTER INCLUDES HAVING AN IMBALANCED GUT MICROBIOME.
Ashutosh K. Mangalam, PhD, An Associate Professor of Pathology at The Carver College of Medicine at The University of Iowa, and Clinician Scientist at Iowa City Va Health Care System, Explained For For Medical News Today That:
“There are Several Environmental Factors that could contributes to MS, Viral Infections, Sunlight Exposure (and vitamin D), and the bacteria in Our Gut, which (Have) Gained to Lot of Attention In Recent Years. Studies from Our Group, as well as Others, have shown that the bacteria Found in People with MS Differ from Those in Healthy Individuals. However, The Exact Composition of these bacteria Varies Across Different Studies, Indicating That More Research is Needed To Understand How Changes In Gut Bacteria Might Influence the Disease. ”
MANGALAM IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF A NEW STUDY RESTORLY PUBLISHED IN THE JORNAL PnasWHICH FOUND THAT THE RATIO OF TWO TYPES OF BACTERIA IN THE GUTIN MICROBIOME MAY BE ABLE TO PREDICT DISPOSE SEVERITY IN PEOPLE WITH MS.
GUT IMBALANCE MAY PLAY KEY ROLE IN MS
During the First Portion of this Study, Researchers Analyzed The Gut Microbiomes of 45 People With Ms.
Scientists discovered that a type of bacterium street Blautia Was More Commonly Found In Study Participants With Ms. Previous Research Shows That Blautia Helps to Maininin
They Also Found That Participants With MS Had Lower Levels of The Bacterial Species PREVETELLA. Past Studies Have Linked An
“The Finding That Blautia Is More Common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients, While PREVETELLA Is Found in Lower Amount, is significant scholarship suggests that specific bacterial Population may be linked to the disease, ”MANGALAM EXPLAINED.
“In Our Study of Ms Patients from the Midwest Region of the Us, We observed an enrichment of Blautia generates. This is interesting scholars Blautia generates Was Previously Classified under the genus Ruminococcusand one of its members, R. Gnavusyou have been Associated with Various inflammatory designs Like lupus, ”I have added.
“On the other hand, The Reduction of PREVETELLA In ms patients might, tell the beneficiating bacteria that Help Maintain to Healthy Gut Microbiome, Further Supporting the idea that dysbiosis – an imbalance in the microbiome – could play a role in ms.
– Ashutosh K. Mangalam, PHD
“Overall, before findings suggest that the gut microbiome plays an important role in ms, with the enrichment of Blautia potentially contribution to the inflammatory processes associated with the disease PREVETELLA May offer protection benefits. Further Research is Needed to ConfirmationSe Associations and To Understand The Mechanisms Behind This Imbalance in the Microbiome, ”Said Mangalam.
Ratio of 2 May Help Predict MS Severity
MANGALAM AND HIS TEAM THEN TOOK THEIR REESARCH ONE STEP FURTER BY USING A MOUSE MODEL WHER Blautia, PREVETELLA Or, in the case of the control group, a bacterium street
Researchers Observed That Mice Given Blautia DEVELOPED MORE GUT INFLAMMATION AND WORSE MS-Like Symptoms Than Thue That Received The Other Types of Bacteria.
Additionionally, The Scientists Found That The Blautia Mice Had Low Levels of the Bacterium Bifidobacterium and High Levels of Akkermansia Before their ms symptoms appeared.
Believe This Suggests that an imbalance Between these Two Types of Might Help Predict the Severity of Ms.
“The Finding That Mice Given Blautia Had Low Levels of Bifidobacterium and High Levels of Akkermansiawhich we also observed in ms patients, is significant scholarship it provides Further Insight into How the Gut Microbiome May contributes to more and inflammation, ”MANGALAM TOLD US.
“Both Blautia and Akkermansia Share the ability to feed on gut lining (mucin) as a food source, but they target different parts of the mucin sugar chain, ”I explained. “Blautia create pro-inflammatory Environment by consumeing one part of the mucin, leaving other parts of the mucin exposed, which can have be used byed by Akkermansia. This results in the expansion of Akkermansia and may contribute to inflammation in the gut and potentially in the brain, as well. ”
“In contrast, Our Data Also indicate that Bifidobacterium Thrives in a Healthy, Noninflammatory Environment, ”Continued Mangalam.
“In Mice with MS-Like Disease, Bifidobacterium Levels were reduced, suggesting that it may not survive Well in an inflammatory Environment. Interestingly, we found that the increase in Akkermansia LEVELS INSE MICE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH DIEW. This LED US to Hypothesize that the ratio of Bifidobacterium to Akkermansia Could Serve as a potential Marker for MS and its Severity. “
– Ashutosh K. Mangalam, PHD
Could Taking Probiotics Help Slow Ms Progress?
Based on This Study’s Findings, MNT ASKED MANGALAM IF TAKING PROBIOTICS AND/OR CONSUMINGIC YOGURT OR KEFIR – CONTAING Bifidobacterium – Could Possibly Help Manage MS Symptoms, or Help Slow Down Disease Progression.
“While Probiotics, Including Those Containing BifidobacteriumAre Often Associated with Guth Health, We Should Be Cautious in Assuming They Can Help Manage MS Symptoms or Slow Disease Progression, ”He was toled us.
“AT This Point, We have not directly tested WHETHER COLONIZING MICE WITH Bifidobacterium You reduce Severity or alters Disease Progression. However, We have tested PREVETELLAWhich Appeared to Ameliorate Disease in Our Studies, ”Mangalam Said.
I have further note that: “it’s important to remember that autimmune designs Like ms are akin to a Civil War – where the environment within the body is not necessary to lead to the survival of beneficia out Bacteria. So, Even If Bifidobacterium Is Introduced, Will It Survive and Exert Benefits Effects in Such A Harsh Environment? That Remains an Open Question. ”
“Rather Than Focusing Solely on Probiotics, I Wouold recommended incorporating to Healthy, Plant-Based Diet into Daily Meals, as diet plays a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiome,” Mangalam Advised. “I pick up that mainting to Healthy Lifestyle Can Be particularly Challenging for MS Patients, But Even Small Dietary Changes-Such As Increasing The Intake of Fiber-Rich Fruits and Vegetables-May Support A More Balanched Microbiome.”
“Combining Such a diet with probiotics might provides benefits, but at this point, we do not have direct evidence to support that Claim,” I have cautooned.
More Human Studies Needed to Confilm Findings
MNT Also had the Opportunity To Speak with Barbara Giesser, MD, A Board-Certified Neurologist and MS Specialist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Ca, About This Study.
“This Study Exponds Previous Work Highlighting The Importance of the Gut Microbiome in Persians With MS,” Giesser, Who Was Not Involved in the Research, Said. “This Study Suggests that the Kind of Bacteria and Ratios of Different Bacteria To One Another in The Gut May Serve As Markers of Disease Severity.”
“Most of this Work Done in the Animal Model and Larger and Longitudinal Studies Need To Be Done On Humans,” She continues. “The Gut Microbiome is Vary Responsive to External Factors Such as Diet and Exercise. FURTER WORK IN THIS AREA MAY LEAD TO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIFESTYLE CHOICES IN PERSONS WITH MS. ”
