Lowering LPS in the context of leaky gut

[Carl]

Pomegranate extract containing 40% Ellagic acid helped reduce SIBO in my case which seems to generate alot of the flatulence problem. I had this entirely unexpected improvement after taking, occasionally, this odd supplement.

Beware of Pomegranates Bearing 40% Ellagic Acid

Few natural products are as effective as intravenous ellagic acid for inducing fatal arterial blood clots.
Ephraim Philip Lansky

High concentrations of ellagic acid can be dangerous. I purchased an extract of ellagic acid myself and I did not use it. I don't need blood clots as I already have a family history of circulatory disorders. Rutin can be quite effective at preventing blood clots.

I have had a lot of bowel problems since a tick bite. At one time I had constipation but since a tick bite I have had a lot more tendency towards diarrhoea which isn't pleasant. I much preferred constipation to shitting myself and having to all the problems cleaning clothes.

 

[cristi_b]

What yucca have you been taking, is it an extract? Any other effects neurologically from it?

I use Now Foods Yucca 500mg and yes manufacturer says it's Yucca extract complex from root. I haven't noticed any neurological issues on Yucca alone(just when I used Horse Chestnut on top of Yucca).

Please mind that in the previous post I mistakenly written "Horse Tail extract" instead of "Horse Chestnut extract", my apologies! Horse Chestnut extract is the one that contains aescin an inhibitor of methane production.

Pomegranate extract containing 40% Ellagic acid helped reduce SIBO in my case which seems to generate alot of the flatulence problem. I had this entirely unexpected improvement after taking, occasionally, this odd supplement.

I tested Pomegranate extract in the past and noticed some good things from it(the perception that time passes more slowly) but also bad ones(abdominal sounds/rumbling, flu like symptoms, possibly Herxheimer, including head ache, lethargy, slight inflammation of the throat). Ellagic Acid is metabolized by bacteria in the gut to Urolithin A which research says improves the gut lining. Unfortunately anything that improves the gut lining causes an increase in inflammation/allergy symptoms for me(could by Herxheimer I'm not sure).

 

[cristi_b]

There's one more update I'd like to share, maybe it helps someone else: while looking in the microbiome data I found a bacteria called Bilophila wadsworthia. I did not have huge numbers of it in the stool sample, as only 7.5 times more than median and 7% over the upper limit for Healthy Europeans(for some of the bacteria I have 4000x times more than median or 100x times more than upper limit) and almost skipped researching it. But I found really interesting stuff about this bacteria:
- it can infect the gallbladder: I've had pain in the past in the gallbladder which no doctor could explain, also high bilirubin which no doctor knows why
- it thrives on bile, most notably taurine conjugated bile acids, which I most certainly have a lot since I eat a lot of meat
- it produces H2S just from taurine conjugated bile acids, it does not need hydrogen, which makes me think it can proliferate in the gallbladder, I actually had a doctor tell me I have a bloated(full of gas) gallbladder and this could be an explanation
- it has a very fast, explosive catalase reaction, which might explain some of the sounds and gas in my stomach
- it was recently proven to be involved in dementia which might explain some of the memory issues I have
- most strands(at least 75%) produce ammonia, which could explain why I have higher ammonia levels in my blood(I'm always on the look-out for bacteria that produce ammonia as they are more probable for me because of higher blood ammonia levels)
- in spite of me having 61x times the abundance of Desulfovibrio piger compared to upper bound for Healthy Europeans, Bilophila wadsworthia is said to be a more prolific H2S producer so it doesn't need such high numbers to cause a problem

In the following period I will test a low sulfur diet including Low Methionine and Low Cysteine. Found some info in this study about sulfur-containing-amino-acid-limited (SAAL) diet and methionine-restricted (MR) diet. In my case all are needed to be restricted because methionine and cysteine lead to Taurine and so increase taurine conjugated bile acids. I have to switch my bile acids to more glycine conjugated ones. Would appreciate any additional info in this matter.

 

[Rufous McKinney]

High concentrations of ellagic acid can be dangerous

I take it on an infrequent basis. It's to be taken daily, and I never take it daily.

So I doubt I am in a high dose situation.

I take nattokinase, also erratically or infrequently. Hoping to counteract some clotting issues. Hard to imagine taken the high dose of that, from studies showing high dose works.

 

[Rufous McKinney]

some good things from it(

I have a body that can do some odd things. Also, because of my extensive background in chinese medicine, I view problems more from that perspective.

So I have this neck issue, and in the evening, the right side is popping, cracking, crunching. I must bend my neck to release this wind.

That ellagic acid occasionally, stopped this symptom. That wind is also the wind coming from SIBO. SIBO is a wind symptom. These two issues are somehow related.

It's a very strange thing, and I imagine this does not make sense even to most people.

I don' t confer with my chinese herbalist much any longer, I moved etc. Need to resume some protocols there. I took a break. I Imagine he would not approve of the Pomegranate Pill.

 

[cristi_b]

That ellagic acid occasionally, stopped this symptom. That wind is also the wind coming from SIBO.

There's one more thing I would like to mention: before I started Yucca I had this swelling and pain in my feet. I did not know what was causing it, an injury or the venous insufficiency I was diagnosed with. After 24h of Yucca(basically I took Yucca during 3 meals) the swelling and pain went away. I think there is a correlation between gas in intestines and various inflammation. For example Bilophila wadsworthia which produces H2S also produces acetaldehyde, a known vasodilator and inflammation producer. Furthermore the removal of H2S from the body uses urate, basically uric acid, which, as you know, is linked to joint pain(don't have a reference/study to back it up as I don't remember where I read it). I always had low uric acid in spite of eating a lot of meat, a doctor was puzzled by this. The way I'm looking at it now is my body used up uric acid to excrete H2S. From this perspective it's possible that Yucca might impact your neck issue. On the other hand Inosine might have the opposite effect, as it raises urate.

I asked perplexity if ellagic acid or Yucca impacts uric acid:

Ellagic acid has been shown to alter uric acid levels by reducing them. Studies indicate that ellagic acid acts as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, which is an enzyme involved in uric acid production. By inhibiting this enzyme, ellagic acid decreases uric acid levels in both cellular models and animal studies.

Yucca can alter uric acid levels by reducing them. Studies indicate that yucca extracts, particularly those containing saponins, have ammonia-binding properties. When ammonia is not absorbed in the digestive tract, it is less likely to be processed by the liver into uric acid, thereby reducing uric acid production.

 

[Dysfunkion]

Day 2 of Yucca capsules here, the glauca variety from that Secrets of the Tribe brand. I'm impressed with how this effects my digestive system, I even ate a bunch of junk last night and it's still beating down the bloating/gas. Was also able to go easier. When I take it I also get a small burst of energy and in general I just appear to feel a bit more stable and energized with it. Also noticed my senses with it are a bit more clear and somehow I can smell things better. I don't have any joint pain so I can't comment on its ability to help anything there. We'll see over the next few days how this rolls out but I am liking it so far.

edit 4/18 - Still using it at one capsule every morning, appears this will be a permanent addition to my stack I didn't know I needed or even knew existed before.

I've decided also to give Myrrh a try too, ordered the Natures Way capsules to see if this stacks well on the Yucca, I can't find any reports of any disasters and results seem to vary from "nothing happened" to mildly positive.

edit 4/19 - I tried the Myrrh and it's not for me. Had an odd sedating effect and it just left me feeling lazy and down. Didn't do anything to effect my guts or really have any positives. Just blah with a side of lethargy and vague calmness.

edit 4/20 - I decided this morning to try the myrrh again, this time effects were much more subtle, there was a sensory clarifying effect especially with scent and vision, and it calmed me down a more smooth manner, and the digestive distress with this dose did not happen despite even eating out last night with possibly the worst food ever for my guts (some sugary delicious pad thai). So I'll just continue anyways at the dose of .5 grams which is the lowest dose. Tonight I'll try the hops again but the Biokoma one's as my other 4 percent alpha acid one's haven't come in yet to see how that feels on top of this stack.

 

[cristi_b]

I leave this here maybe it helps someone else: I've stumbled upon an other way to improve gut permeability, AKG. I've bought the Nutricost AKG Acid product, which is a bit harsh on the stomach because it contributes to acidity and I cannot tolerate the recommended 2 pills so I take one with meal but otherwise the results have been good based on the dampening of allergic reactions that I experience(I associate a worsening of allergies with Herxheimer reaction from LPS, so any lowering of allergies I interpret as alleviating gut permeability).

The study I looked at is for E Coli LPS, but maybe it works for other pathogens also: this is the research paper. They mention it improves serum D-Lactic Acid and lowers DAO activity(a marker of lower Histamine release because of LPS). This is music to my ears as I have genetic issues with lower DAO capacity and I can't handle lots of Histamine.

Below is a discussion with Perplexity about it:

In the study you referenced, the reduction in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity observed with AKG supplementation indicates improved intestinal barrier integrity and reduced intestinal permeability, which is closely tied to lower inflammation. Here's the breakdown:

Why Lower DAO Activity Matters​

1. DAO as a Marker of Intestinal Damage:
   DAO is an enzyme primarily produced in the intestinal mucosa. Elevated serum DAO levels signal intestinal barrier dysfunction (e.g., "leaky gut"), as the enzyme leaks into the bloodstream when the gut lining is damaged. Lower serum DAO activity in the AKG-treated piglets suggests reduced intestinal permeability and a healthier gut barrier.
2. Link to Inflammation:
   • Intestinal barrier damage allows harmful substances (e.g., LPS from E. coli) to enter systemic circulation, triggering inflammation.
   • By reducing DAO activity, AKG indirectly lowers inflammation by preventing LPS leakage and subsequent immune activation (e.g., reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in the study).
3. AKG’s Role in Gut Health:
   • AKG enhanced tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin), which seal the gut lining and prevent pathogen/toxin translocation.
   • It also reduced oxidative stress and ER/mitochondrial dysfunction, further protecting the intestinal barrier.

Key Findings from the Study​

• Lower DAO activity correlated with:
  • Improved jejunal morphology (healthier gut structure).
  • Reduced serum D-lactic acid (another marker of intestinal permeability).
  • Higher antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) levels.

Conclusion​

The decrease in DAO activity reflects improved intestinal barrier function rather than a direct anti-inflammatory effect. By repairing the gut lining and reducing permeability, AKG indirectly mitigates inflammation caused by LPS leakage. This aligns with the study’s observation of reduced systemic inflammation markers and enhanced gut health in AKG-supplemented piglets.

Citations:​

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38453028/
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10355370/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37348134/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316624001494
5. https://colab.ws/articles/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.03.001
6. http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/pdfs/cjs/2021/10/01.pdf
7. https://ouci.dntb.gov.ua/en/works/42ZZd1X4/
8. https://article.imrpress.com/bri/Landmark/articles/pdf/Landmark3783.pdf
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891584924000893
10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/asj.12824
11. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/3/405
12. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1429233/pdf
13. https://article.imrpress.com/bri/Landmark/articles/pdf/Landmark4342.pdf
14. https://www.semanticscholar.org/pap...u-Lu/69f5ebf48a7f811d46ab9e58660a5f37128af42d
15. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04641
16. https://ouci.dntb.gov.ua/en/works/7qjP3Nb4/

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Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

I found also some information about Ornithine AKG being good for gut permeability, but I have not tried it yet.

 

[Rufous McKinney]

I think there is a correlation between gas in intestines and various inflammation.

really fascinating.

I need to come back here and ponder your posts further, its all very interesting.

I took alot of chinese herbs. But I sort of stopped, and need to resume some protocols.