A recent study has shown that a ketogenic (keto) diet, known for being a low-carbohydrate, high-fat eating plan, can reduce the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mouse models by influencing gut bacteria and their metabolites. The findings suggest that molecules produced by gut bacteria are central to the beneficial effects of the keto diet in MS models, leading researchers to propose that supplements of these bacterial-produced molecules could potentially help treat MS in humans.
The study, published in Cell Reports, titled "A Diet-Dependent Host Metabolite Shapes the Gut Microbiota to Protect from Autoimmunity," was co-authored by Peter Turnbaugh, PhD, from the University of California, San Francisco. Turnbaugh noted, "What was really exciting was finding that we could protect these mice from inflammatory disease just by putting them on a diet supplemented with these compounds."
The research suggests that supplementation with these compounds could offer an alternative therapeutic strategy for people with MS, provided similar effects are seen in humans.
The Role of Gut Bacteria in MS and Diet
While diet is recognised as a key factor in health, its impact on autoimmune diseases like MS is particularly significant. I have long promoted and use a diet low in simple carbohydrates, sugars and starches etcetera. This diet I arrived at based on similarities between the various MZS diets that have been promoted over the years. A keto diet reduces carbohydrate intake, much like my diet, prompting the body to burn fat for energy, producing molecules called ketone bodies. These molecules, specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), play a role in modulating inflammatory immune cells.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all diet for people with MS, some studies have pointed to the keto diet as a potential strategy for reducing fatigue and depression associated with MS. In animal models, the keto diet has also been shown to reduce disease severity, though the exact mechanisms remained unclear prior to this research.
The Connection Between Diet and Gut Microbiome
In their experiments, researchers induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a disease resembling MS, in mice. The animals were then given either a high-fat diet or a ketogenic diet. As expected, the mice on the keto diet showed less severe disease symptoms.
The researchers then repeated the experiment using germ-free mice, which lack a gut microbiome. In contrast to the original results, these germ-free mice showed similar disease severity regardless of whether they were fed a high-fat or ketogenic diet. This highlighted the crucial role of gut bacteria in mediating the effects of the keto diet.
This again supports not only the diet I have been using, but the importance of gut bacteria to produce BHB. Right diet, wrong gut bacteria dissent work.Wrong diet with right gut bacteria docent work. We need both to be optimised which is where my supplements come in.
How BHB Protects Mice from MS
When mice are on a ketogenic diet, the concentration of BHB in their blood increases. BHB is known to influence immune system behavior. The researchers speculated that the lack of BHB production in germ-free mice may explain why these animals did not benefit from the keto diet. To test this hypothesis, the researchers supplemented the germ-free mice with BHB, which resulted in reduced disease severity, mimicking the protective effects of the ketogenic diet.
Further experiments showed that BHB promotes the growth of gut bacteria that produce indole-3-lactate (ILA), an anti-inflammatory compound. When mice on a high-fat diet were treated with ILA or bacteria that produce it, they experienced a significant reduction in disease severity, with a higher chance of survival. Since people with MS typically have lower levels of ILA, this finding provides insight into how diet-induced changes in gut bacteria may influence disease progression.
Implications for Human Treatment
The researchers are optimistic that these findings could lead to a more accessible treatment option for MS patients. As Turnbaugh put it, "The big question now is how much of this will translate into actual patients." Instead of relying on a difficult-to-maintain keto diet, supplements of BHB or ILA could offer a more feasible approach to managing MS.
The study sets the stage for further research into BHB and ILA supplements as potential therapeutic tools for MS, potentially transforming how the disease is managed and offering new hope for individuals living with MS.
Original Article Credit: Marisa Wexler, MS. Multiple Sclerosis News Today. Read the full article here.
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