Isoflavone diet ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through modulation of gut bacteria, 2021, Samantha N Jensen et al

Mij

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Full Title: Isoflavone diet ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through modulation of gut bacteria depleted in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract
The gut microbiota is a potential environmental factor that influences the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). We and others have demonstrated that patients with MS and healthy individuals have distinct gut microbiomes. However, the pathogenic relevance of these differences remains unclear. Previously, we showed that bacteria that metabolize isoflavones are less abundant in patients with MS, suggesting that isoflavone-metabolizing bacteria might provide protection against MS. Here, using a mouse model of MS, we report that an isoflavone diet provides protection against disease, which is dependent on the presence of isoflavone-metabolizing bacteria and their metabolite equol. Notably, the composition of the gut microbiome in mice fed an isoflavone diet exhibited parallels to healthy human donors, whereas the composition in those fed an isoflavone-free diet exhibited parallels to patients with MS. Collectively, our study provides evidence that dietary-induced gut microbial changes alleviate disease severity and may contribute to MS pathogenesis.

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/28/eabd4595
 
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While I think pwChronicIllness need more of certain compounds than others to alleviate the extra stress put on the system by illness, I find it unlikely that patients have a markedly lower isoflavone content in their diet than healthy controls.
This quote from the background
Article said:
Notably, we show that certain bacteria that are absent in patients with MS are responsible for the EAE protection afforded by an isoflavone diet
makes me wonder if increasing isoflavone intake alone would be enough, the bacteria would have to be introduced first. And there are more things that influence which bacteria is able to colonize the gut than one single compound alone.

Edit: I would have liked to see the data of mice fed normal chow in the plots, mice chow usually contains soy which would be a source of isoflavones although likely less than the isoflavone enriched diet.
 
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Edit: I would have liked to see the data of mice fed normal chow in the plots, mice chow usually contains soy which would be a source of isoflavones although likely less than the isoflavone enriched diet.
The study said the same thing - the normal feed had a level of isoflavones that was between the levels of the isoflavone-free and high-isoflavone diets:
Screen Shot 2022-08-16 at 7.37.39 pm.png

makes me wonder if increasing isoflavone intake alone would be enough, the bacteria would have to be introduced first. And there are more things that influence which bacteria is able to colonize the gut than one single compound alone.
They do some studies on this too. They found that an isoflavone diet changed the abundance of certain gut bacteria and the differences between the mice on the two different diets correlated with some of the differences found between people with MS and healthy controls. They do note that a suitable diet and a suitable microflora are required.

Specifically, Adlercreutzia and Parabacteroides distasonis, which metabolize isoflavones, were more abundant in mice on an isoflavone diet (Fig. 4C). We also confirmed the identity of these bacteria via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), using species-specific primers, in fecal samples from these mice (Fig. 4D). Notably, both genera were enriched in healthy individuals but depleted in patients with MS (8). Conversely, Akkermansia muciniphila was found in greater abundance in mice on an isoflavone-free diet, and this genus is commonly enriched in patients with MS compared to healthy individuals

Screen Shot 2022-08-16 at 7.47.31 pm.png

They wiped out the gut bacteria of the mice with a broad spectrum antibiotic and replaced it with specific bacteria. The mice with the bacteria thought to be protective had much milder illnesses when the EAE was subsequently induced provided they had isoflavones in their diet. The mice needed to have both the isoflavones in the food and the good bacteria in the gut.

Screen Shot 2022-08-16 at 7.54.18 pm.png

Next, they tested a metabolite produced by the protective bacteria:
Isoflavones are broken down by the Parabacteroides and Adlercreutzia genera into biologically active metabolites such as S-equol, increasing their potency (35). Therefore, we sought to determine whether treating mice with S-equol alone could ameliorate EAE.
Screen Shot 2022-08-16 at 8.00.39 pm.png
A sustained intake of the metabolite, Equol, gave the same protection as a high isoflavone diet + bacteria (see the left hand chart).

It's about now I start to get suspicious that this team has shares in a company manufacturing Equol tablets.... Still, it's interesting. Not least because these people and others seem so convinced that they can make mice get something like multiple sclerosis. And because it suggests that frequent dosing of antibiotics might be a contributory factor.
 
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makes me wonder if increasing isoflavone intake alone would be enough, the bacteria would have to be introduced first.

I agree, it's more complex than supplementing. What is the underlying cause?

I had panels of tests done and Butyrate was non existent. It has many functions in our digestive health, as well as supporting brain health et, but supplementing didn't make a noticeable difference. My digestive health improved after treating for h. pylori many years later.
 
The study said the same thing - the normal feed had a level of isoflavones that was between the levels if the isoflavone-free and high-isoflavone diets:
It's good they write it as many are unaware of what the mice are regularly fed, which is problematic when extrapolating to what humans eat. The reason I wanted the normal chow mice data included in the other plots is because we see different prevalences of illnesses between people who move from countries with low to high prevalence, and this is believed to be due to among other things lifestyle. While some dietary change occurs when people move from one country to another, they also often eat food that is part of the diet of the contry they came from, though maybe not in the same amount. The normal chow might have a more realistic level of isoflavones than the high isoflavone diet (though there are other problems with regular chow that makes it unsuitable as a stand-in for "a regular diet").

They do some studies on this too. They found that an isoflavone diet changed the abundance of certain gut bacteria and the differences between the mice on the two different diets correlated with some of the differences found between people with MS and healthy controls. They do note that a suitable diet and a suitable microflora are required.

They wiped out the gut bacteria of the mice with a broad spectrum antibiotic and replaced it with specific bacteria. The mice with the bacteria thought to be protective had much milder illnesses when the EAE was subsequently induced provided they had isoflavones in their diet. The mice needed to have both the isoflavones in the food and the good bacteria in the gut.
I missed the part where they used the antibiotic.

While isoflavones are not a large component in the diet in many countries with high prevalence of MS, we have other flavones that are beneficial for gut health and also show antiinflammatory properties (which, as with the isoflavones in this study, have been linked to the microbiome).

Next, they tested a metabolite produced by the protective bacteria:

A sustained intake of the metabolite, Equol, gave the same protection as a high isoflavone diet + bacteria (see the left hand chart).

It's about now I start to get suspicious that this team has shares in a company manufacturing Equol tablets.... Still, it's interesting. Not least because these people and others seem so convinced that they can make mice get something like multiple sclerosis. And because it suggests that frequent dosing of antibiotics might be a contributory factor.
I really dislike this focus on a single component and/or food. It is typically something that is easy to isolate and that can be turned into a supplement to use in a study (and I guess potentially sold). I'd be more interested if similar effects can be seen with a whole food diet that includes different flavones (but each with likely lower amounts than what is used here).

You can give mice (and humans) carrageenan and it will cause/worsen gut inflammation in suceptible individuals, causing relapse of inflammatory bowel disease. In both cases as soon as integrity of the gut wall is part of the equation vitamin D status is important (which is also associated with MS prevalence), though I'm not sure what threshold would be relevant here as most studies are done on cell lines (and observational studies on human health and vitamin D, with their own issues such as using different threshold for deficien/sufficient vitamin D status). At high enough levels vitamin D protects barrier integrity by increasing expression and/or improving localisation of tight junction proteins. Additionally other nutrients such as vitamin A, zinc and glutamine are beneficial. Other compounds (not just flavones) that can make bacteria create beneficial compounds such as short chain fatty acids... there are more "stressors" in the gut of people who eat diets than mice that get standarized chow.

I agree, it's more complex than supplementing. What is the underlying cause?
A very good question. Looking at single compounds in mice where one can control the rest of the diet (and environment) more or less 100% is not something that can be easily translated to humans.
 
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