Metabolic Endotoxaemia Flashcards
1
Q
Metabolic endotoxaemia
A
Metabolic endotoxaemia = a subclinical rise in bacterial LPS in the blood, resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation.
- It is associated with chronic diseases including CVD, diabetes mellitus, autoimmunity and degenerative disorders.
- LPS are from the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria and interact with toll-like receptors (esp. TLR4) in the immune system.
- Dysbiosis, mucosal degradation and permeability of the GI tight junctions (often interlinked), increase serum LPS, which triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-β).
- High fat diets (incl. ketogenic) ↑ LPS transport across the intestinal membrane; be cautious if a tendency to metabolic endotoxemia.
2
Q
Natural approach to metabolic endotoxaemia
A
- Avoid alcohol (↑ LPS transport across intestinal epithelium), other dietary irritants / toxins / NSAIDs (see full stage 1 of 5R).
- ↑ dietary fibre ― to bind and clear LPS via the bowel, and to feed butyrate producing species (e.g., Roseburia, Akkermansia spp.).
- Avoid a Western or ketogenic diet.
- Focus on a rainbow of colour (esp. polyphenolrich foods) to feed the keystone bacterial species, ↓ inflammation and discourage growth of gram-negative bacteria).
- Breathing techniques and cold exposure (e.g., cold showers) have been shown to help reduce systemic LPS load.
- Reinoculate and support the GI barrier (stage 3 and 4 of ‘5R’).
- Support liver function, bile production / flow to aid LPS clearance:
– Milk thistle (hepatoprotective, ↑ glutathione), burdock root, artichoke, dandelion, spirulina and chlorella (has an LPS-blocking effect at the TLR4).
– A variety of dietary antioxidants (e.g., vitamin C, E, carotenoids). Selenium — for glutathione peroxidase.
– NAC, cruciferous vegetables and resveratrol to ↑ glutathione.
– Nrf2 inducers (to scavenge ROS) — e.g., broccoli sprouts, green tea, lycopene (tomatoes), rosemary, curcumin
