Dr. Koz’s Corner

October 15 2020

Dysbiosis and Leaky Gut – Microbiome – Part 2

Dear Friends:

Regarding other areas of gut health and balance, there are two major phyla of gut bacteria— aerobes and anaerobes, with variable ratios depending on the individual with from 500-1100 sub-species identified.

As with any life forms occupying the same ecosystem, bacterial species in our gut can compete with each other for dominance.

If unfavorable imbalances of various forms of bacteria are dominant within our microbiota it is called “dysbiosis”.

Dysbiosis in the microbiome has been associated with the potential generation of numerous diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes (types 1 and 2), allergies, asthma, autism, and cancer.

If dysbiosis is coupled with breakdowns in the protective and the absorptive gut membrane lining in the small and large intestines, this can lead to a popularly known condition known as “leaky gut” syndrome.

The leaky gut syndrome is a condition also referred to as increased intestinal permeability where the protective net in your digestive tract, acting as a selective filter, gets damaged or weakened.

Now comes the cascade of events that allows proteins (like gluten), bad bacteria, and undigested particles to pass into your bloodstream. These particles can cause systemic inflammation, allergies and immune reactions over time.

The gatekeepers of this gut interface between the gut and absorption into the host body, are the billions of tiny projections called villi and microvilli.

The purpose of the villi and microvilli is actually to enormously increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.

For illustrative purposes, a 20-foot tube or so of the small intestines expands to a surface area of approximately 2200 square feet as a result of the additional surface area brought by the villi and microvilli.

If the villi are damaged or impaired, nutrient absorption becomes adversely affected as well as its ability to be a protective barrier.

Large intestines do not have villi, but goblet cells that secrete mucus and houses the majority of the microbiome in a little sac portion near the junction of the small intestines with the large intestines called the cecum.

The sac-like cecum at the beginning juncture of the large intestines and end of the small intestines contains most of our gut bacteria and other nutrients.

Its is a remarkable yet simple structure that contains most of the bacteria which act as a biological chemistry factory with all the remarkable, bioactive substances and short-chain fatty acid manufacturing from soluble fiber ( or prebiotics) so essential for our health.

We are now in a process of greater enlightenment to better understand how to better care for our gut as well as identifying specific bacteria to carry out more specific functions in the administration of various probiotics and other forms of unique prebiotics that help to support the health and healing of our villi.

As helpful and remarkable are the many kinds of probiotics, from this author’s perspective, probably the most significant nutrition factor for gut bacteria and its health and microbiome balance, is an adequate amount of prebiotic or soluble fiber.

The gut bacteria breakdown the soluble fiber into amazing high octane fatty acids that help heal the gut, fight disease, help in glucose metabolism, and have gut anti-cancer capabilities.

Although there is no dietary reference intake for insoluble or soluble fiber, many experts recommend a total dietary fiber intake of 25 to 30 grams per day with about one-fourth — 6 to 8 grams per day — coming from soluble fiber.

As I emphasize in my recommendations, a diet abundant in a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds, is of course the best primary sources of fiber and antioxidants before amplifying and enhancing with dietary fiber and prebiotic supplements.

October 15 2020

A New Look At Body Fat and Fatty Acid Amines – Part 1

Dear Friends:

Nutrigenomics refers to studying the effects of nutrients on the expression of an individual’s genetic makeup.

Currently, this definition is broadened to encompass nutritional factors that protect the gene pool from damage as well.

Ultimately, nutrigenomics is concerned with the impact of dietary components on the genome ( the complete set of genes in an organism), the proteome (the sum total of all proteins created within the cell and very relevant to health and the aging process), and the metabolome (the sum of all metabolites produced through metabolism).

As in pharmacogenomics crucial in drug research, where a drug will have diverse impacts on different segments of a population, science recognizes that a population can also be diverse in its response to nutrient interventions–some will respond positively, some may be unresponsive, while others potentially even adversely affected.

This may be why a certain diet or a set of supplements, worked wonders for your friend, but you didn’t lose any weight or improve some aspect of your health. Or why one twin develops Type II diabetes, but the other twin, who made different lifestyle and nutritional choices, doesn’t.

To understand this concept a little better, here are a few definitions to have in place:

Genome means the genetic material that you’re born with–your DNA. This cannot be changed.
Epigenome means the network of chemical compounds that interacts and attaches to a single gene ( thus the prefix “epi”–called SNP). Think of this as a “light switch”, basically “turns on” or “turns off” what the gene will do or not do with its intrinsic DNA and ultimately, how that will be expressed in your health. That specific gene or set of genes, that could possibly be activated or better controlled, that may make you more susceptible to Alzheimer’s, cancer, or heart disease or not, is largely and potentially in one’s hands greater than we realize. That fact we can affect the behavior of the epigenome through diet and other healthy practices is part of the teamwork we have with our DNA–this is of monumental significance in taking greater control of our health and life!
Nutrigenomics being explained again in a slightly different manner below is a field that combines the study of nutrition and gene expression. Note the following:

Mark Hyman describes nutrigenomics from his book: [Ultra-metabolism: the simple plan for automatic weight loss. New York: Atria Books; 2006. p. 24.]

The new science of nutrigenomics teaches us what specific foods tell your genes. What you eat directly determines the genetic messages your body receives. These messages, in turn, control all the molecules that constitute your metabolism: the molecules that tell your body to burn calories or store them. If you can learn the language of your genes and control the messages and instructions they give your body and your metabolism, you can radically alter how food interacts with your body, lose weight, and optimize your health.

Nutrigenomics can help you understand yourself better. Pay close attention to what type of diet, exercise, or supplements work best for you.

This, in turn, will give you the best results, better control, and management, when working towards better health for a better quality of life for you and your family.

It can also potentially translate into greater efficiency and effectiveness when addressing expanded economic national dimensions, even to be part of a preventative and cost-saving strategy in our thinking regarding the ever demanding and challenged national healthcare costs.