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DNA

Can Bacteria in Your Gut Define Who You Are?

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probiotics and obesity
vitstudio/Dollar Photo Club

While the importance of bacteria in the gut cannot be understated, mainstream medicine’s understanding of the role of gut bacteria in health is in a dire need of awakening.  I know that I sound like a broken record on this issue, but the stewards of health and disease just do not understand how much of a role bacteria play.

Our local rep for VSL-3 (a very high-dose probiotic that we strongly recommend for inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulitis/osis) has told me that all too many of the pediatric gastroenterologists she visits do not see the value in probiotics or will recommend poor-quality products (such as Florastor, despite the fact that the yeast present in Florastor is not really a true probiotic).

Besides this, antibiotic prescriptions continue to be given for non-bacterial or self-limiting conditions, or broad-spectrum antibiotics are used where narrow spectrum antibiotics are indicated.

It’s time to really put this disconnect into perspective…

Most of society’s understanding of DNA is that it is the root of what we are.  Our DNA is the individual information upon which our bodies are built.  But recent years have taught us that this is not the entire picture.

Yes, the DNA you are given does not change and was decided at the moment of your conception.  BUT, there is this little thing called epigenetic (“epi” meaning “around”) modification.  Epigenetic modification refers to the chemical addition of molecules (usually a methyl group) to DNA.  This change will affect the way your genes will be expressed.

As an example, you may have the DNA for a full head of brown hair, but due to some stressful event like chemotherapy, your hair may permanently turn grey through epigenetic modification.  Your actual DNA is for brown hair, but due to these epigenetic changes, your DNA produces grey hair instead of brown.  The way your hair gene gets expressed has been fundamentally changed.

As science has understood its importance, epigenetics has become a rapidly growing field.  Along with this growth has come greater understanding of the role epigenetics plays in health and disease.  And this understanding has been eye-opening.

It is now well-accepted that experiences even early in life cause epigenetic changes that will increase the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  And these changes are (as far as we know) irreversible.

So what affects epigenetic modification?  Things like early life stress (emotional, physical, sexual or malnutrition) affect epigenetics.  Nutritional deficiencies.  Environmental chemical exposure.  All the nasty things you can envision can create epigenetic changes.

But what about the bacteria in your gut?

Based on this particular study, it turns out this may be the case.  Researchers looked at a group of 8 pregnant women and broke them up into two groups based on the dominant microbiota in their gut (1-Bacteroidetes / Proteobacteria or 2-Firmicutes) and looked at what kind of epigenetic changes were present on their DNA.

When the bacterial family Firmicutes was dominant (a condition that has already been linked to obesity) epigenetic changes linked to an elevated risk of chronic diseases (predominantly cardiovascular disease and specifically to lipid metabolism, obesity, and inflammation) was found.

Let me put this another way:  having the wrong blend of bacteria in your gut will, above and beyond any other lifestyle choices you make, increase your risk of chronic diseases AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.  Your very DNA changes as a result of this class of bacteria being present.

I don’t think anything can express just how important a positive, stable bacterial flora in your gut is to your overall health and well being like this study does.

What have YOU done for your bacteria today?

 

Unlabelled Genetically Modified DNA Found in Brazilian Food – (09-29-00)

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Unlabelled Genetically Modified DNA Found in Brazilian Food

Many countries other than the US are well aware of the potential dangers of GMF and many of these countries have laws requiring disclosure of foods containing them. Here in the US, many are not even aware that something called GMF exists, let alone that there may be health concerns with them. The issue is that, as we splice genes a potential for brand new proteins that the human body has never had exposure to before arises. The stage for severe or chronic allergic reactions may then be set.

The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Defence (ICD) this week called for an official investigation to be launched after tests of over 30 food products showed genetically modified DNA in 11 of them. Several companies have been ordered by the Centre for Sanitary Vigilance of the State of Sao Paulo to withdraw their brands from supermarket shelves. The ICD, in partnership with Greenpeace and the Swiss laboratory Interlabor Belp AG, found transgenic soya or corn in the food products in quantities of up to 10% of the contents. The ICD has advised consumers not to buy products from Argentina, Canada or the USA that are likely to contain soya or corn. In all products the transgenic DNA was from Roundup Ready, produced by the biotechnology company Monsanto. The transgenic ingredient was not indicated on the labels of any of the products, contravening state and federal law.

Does oxidative damage to DNA increase with age? – (09-02-01)

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Does oxidative damage to DNA increase with age?

This is such an insightful article that opens up both questions and answers. Although this is also a rodent study, once again evidence is strong in support of similar effect in humans. First, do we have increased DNA damage with aging, or does the DNA damage lead to aging? Probably a mixture of both. Current theories of aging include oxidative damage, glycosylation of proteins and shortening of telomeres. Most likely, aging is a combination of all these factors and more. The increased oxidative stress to DNA may be more of a reduction in the protective factors present with younger patients.

PNAS — Abstracts: Hamilton et al. 98 (18): 10469

Read entire article here

Alteration of DNA methylation in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis – (10-08-01)

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Alteration of DNA methylation in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis

I know this sounds a little technical, but the take home message is that alterations in the body’s ability to methylate DNA may lead to cancer. Methylation helps to protect DNA from damage. Slow methylation can come from a variety of sources, with dietary alterations and genetic sluggishness at the top of the list. Combine the two and it’s not a pretty picture. Folic acid and Vit B12 are some of the most important players in this game. Making sure you eat lots of whole grains and fresh fruit will provide high levels of these nutrients. However, in patients with genetic sluggishness, high doses of folic acid may be needed in supplement form.

Synergy : Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 16 (9), 960-968

Read entire article here

The in vivo neuromodulatory effects of ginkgo biloba – (06-11-01)

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The in vivo neuromodulatory effects of ginkgo biloba

This article is a little technical, but the bottom line is that ginko biloba does activate certain areas of DNA in the brain that plays a protective role against certain degenerative neurological disorders such as Alzheimers. Maybe thousands of years of anecdotal evidence really did have a scientific basis…

PNAS — Abstracts: Watanabe et al. 98 (12): 6577

Read entire article here

Environmental toxins can have their negative effects by inhibiting the methylation of DNA – (04-08-04)

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Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal

For those of us that are not biochemists and our eyes glazed over at the title to this one–basically, environmental toxins can have their negative effects by inhibiting the methylation of DNA. Remember that methylation reactions are incredibly important and effect such a basic role in human physiology. Thus, problems with methylation can lead to problems in many organ systems.

In this study, the authors found that environmental toxins such as mercury-containing thimerosal inhibit DNA methylation. For the life of me, I cannot see how anyone in the pharmaceutical industry could have even considered the use of mercury as a preservative. I can see it now…”I need something to extend the shelf live of this vaccine so we can make a larger profit on vaccines given to infants. Hey–how about that potent neurotoxin mercury?”

Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal.

Read entire article here

Is folic acid the ultimate functional food component for disease prevention? – (01-29-04)

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Is folic acid the ultimate functional food component for disease prevention?

45+ years after research began to suggest that the safe, simple and cheap use of folic acid may prevent neural tube defects, folic acid continues to be seen as a near panacea for prevention and potential treatment for a wide variety of conditions. This is because folic acid is involved in both the methylation pathway and the formation and repair of DNA.

These two processes are so ingrained in our physiology as to have an impact on every cell every minute of every day. Deprive someone of folic acid, and/or throw in a genetic “uniqueness” that slows down the conversion of dietary folic acid to its active form, and the dominoes of disease begin to fall.

bmj.com Lucock 328 (7433): 211 –

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Is fibromyalgia a physiological problem or psychological? – (02-16-04)

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Increased DNA fragmentation and ultrastructural changes in fibromyalgic muscle fibres

This article is pretty interesting. We’ve spent much time trying to determine if fibromyalgia is a physiological problem or psychological. I’ve never been a fan of the diagnosis and I feel that FM is just a “catch-all” term made by physicians that don’t understand physiology. Many of the symptoms of FM can relate to GI complaints, mitochondrial defects or unregulation of the immune system. The findings in this study match what I’ve always felt.

This small study finds damage to the DNA and lowered levels of mitochondria in patients with FM. This could be a result of increased oxidative stress with inability of the cell to keep up. Ultimately, lowered energy production (decreased ATP production) will result in easy fatigue ability of the muscles. Further “sickening” of the cell could result in DNA damage from increased oxidative stress. This all points to a global approach to FM–cleaning up the lifestyle, increased intake of fruits and veggies, and targeted nutritional supplementation to support healthy cellular metabolism.

Ann Rheum Dis — Abstracts: Sprott et al. 63 (3): 245 –

Read entire article here