Resistant starch is a very good idea. I have incorporated this for some time through various foods, but not in the same quantities as you report. I've also never taken unmodified potato starch, but I am intrigued by the idea of using this method to introduce large quantities of RS. Actually, I think galactooligosaccharide (GOS) may be the ideal substrate for Bifidobacterial growth. Have you considered this. A while back I tried to get some bifido-sourced GOS, but it was only available in the UK. There are other non-bifido-derived sources of GOS, though.
I think RS could be very effective, but I believe most here would benefit from the introduction of species that they are lacking. The ongoing supplementation of these organisms will need to continue until the conditions in the bowel are such that these organisms can predominate. Unfortunately, one of the limiting factors in repopulating the intestinal microbiome is going to be one's tolerance to the fatigue and inflammatory response created by the displacement of these organisms. Everyone I know that has pursued my suggestions have eventually experienced this. If you throw down the ideal substrate and start putting in huge numbers of these organisms, as is the case when you culture your own bacteria without competing organisms, there will be some negative consequences. I would happily eat 4 cups of yogurt and the other fermented foods that I make, but I would be nearly non-functional from this. Glad to hear you are having so much success with RS. I don't know about the severity of your illness, but I wouldn't go too fast, as there will be a cumulative effect.
I recommended Infantis and Bifidus strains in particular for quite a number of reasons including their capacity to biosynthesize and interconvert folates, their efficacy in lowering the inflammatory response, their ability to permanently colonize, their strong association with the infant microbiome, and their apparent susceptibility in some disease states. It seems that for most, B. Bifidum has a much stronger effect in terms of displacing organisms. I have cultured other strains, but unfortunately single strain bifidobacteria are not easy to locate. I would love to have some B. Adolescentis, for example, but I cannot find any. The complex interrelationship among the genus, species, and subspecies leads one to believe that biological diversity should be pursued, but I believe some ecological modification needs to take place first. I do not believe saturating the gut with multi-strain probiotics is the answer, but for some this will provide symptomatic relief. The properties of the various Bifidus organisms are actually very distinct, but they are complementary. I certainly can't claim to know the optimal combination, but I have some very compelling leads about what someone with ME/CFS may benefit from based upon my understanding of the biochemical abnormalities of the condition. I also have pretty good anecdotal insight into what seems to help and harm. The trial and error will continue.
I do think the nitrogen problem may be a core issue in ME/CFS and it is reflective of dysbiosis. For many this does not become apparent until cysteine levels rise or pathogenic organisms involved in the nitrogen cycle are displaced. Cysteine metabolism is closely paired to nitrogen metabolism in humans and with apologies to Ms. Yasko, I think the influence of cysteine is not what she has hypothesized. Bifidobacteria positively contribute to denitrification, and their collective impact in humans is unlike any other organism. (SBO's are generally pretty efficient at this as well but they will not predominate).
I think these bifidus organisms are a good foundation, even in those without apparent ammonia problems and acidic bowels. They are net producers of folate, whereas most species of LAB are net consumers. They do not contribute significant degrees of harmful metabolites, as do many species of LAB. Bifidobacteria ferment short chain fatty acids which have myriad functions, but for ME/CFS they are probably critical for supplementing levels of ATP. I also consider this even more important in postmenarchal girls and women because of the negative influence of estradiol, which contributes to disruption of the epithelial layer and ultimately intestinal permeability.
Bifidobacteria's relationship in inflammatory disease is also starting to become clear with diminished numbers realized in metabolic disorders, like Type II diabetes, and obesity. Numbers consistently decline with aging and so does ones capacity to metabolize so many compounds that Bifidobacteria have been proven to degrade. Their role in detoxification is greatly under appreciated; with studies demonstrating that they can enhance the excretion of about any substance I have ever seen reported as being at toxic concentrations in ME/CFS. They have consistently been shown to reduce inflammatory measures over time, whereas I have seen quite a number of negative correlations associated with LAB, particularly homofermentative strains.
While I think the foundation is laid in the lower intestinal tract with Bifidobacteria, I believe many strains of LAB can be beneficial, but I think the methodology is critical and the timing of introduction may be as well. LAB will primarily influence the environment in the upper bowel, you may actually find this more efficacious. I think the ideal properties of these organisms, however, will mimic many of those of the Bifidus genus. One needs to ferment anaerobically for an extended duration to reduce the unwanted byproducts of fermentation.
Let me know if you have tried GOS and how your experiment is going. Also, what sort of ammonia symptoms have you experienced.
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Vegas I think you single handedly explained (via your posts in this thread) many of the reasons why Resistant Starch is having such a profound effect on so many people including myself.
C