Gut Health

A New Way to Improve Gut Health

The Integrative Wellness Center is now carrying an exciting new medical food shake that reduces gastrointestinal symptoms and beneficially alters gut microbiota in adults with IBS, Celiac Disease and IBD.

UltraGI Replenish is a delicious medical food formulated to provide nutritional support in the management of compromised gut function associated with digestive disorders and malabsorption. This medical food provides a unique blend of macronutrients, micronutrients, and exclusive prebiotics selected for their ability to improve gut function, nutrient absorption, and intestinal microbiota.

Prebiotics hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for addressing compromised gut function associated with GI conditions. UltraGI Replenish contains a proprietary blend of prebiotics: a nature identical 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs). Prebiotics are non-digestible food and plant ingredients, mostly small carbohydrate polymers known as oligosaccharides, which beneficially affect the host through their selective metabolism in the intestinal tract.

2’-FL is a prebiotic found in human breast milk. Several functions have been attributed to 2’-FL, including the ability to support the growth of beneficial microbiota (including Bifidobacterium), inducing the production of SCFAs (an energy substrate for colonic epithelial cells), and regulating gut motility (by reducing the frequency and velocity of contractions).

2’-FL also supports GI health by blocking certain potentially harmful bacterial strains from adhering to their host cell receptors; 2’-FL mimics host cell surface receptors and acts as a decoy. 2’-FL has been shown to act as an anti-adhesive antimicrobial to Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli, and Norovirus.

A recent clinical trial with patients suffering from digestive disorders, demonstrated that consuming 2 servings daily of UGIR for 6 weeks:

• Reduced GI symptoms and improved overall GI quality of life
• Increased production of SCFAs, including butyrate
• Increased levels of Bifidobacterium spp.
• Reduced potential harmful intestinal microbiota

In addition, this landmark formula features a unique combination of macro- and micronutrients to complement a carefully designed dietary plan and deliver a lifestyle medicine approach unlike any other.

If you would like to try UltraGI Replenish, order online or visit our office today and purchase from our natural pharmacy.

To order online go to: http://jsmothers.metagenics.com/store.

**Receive 20% off your first online order and 10% off recurring orders. Free shipping is also available for qualifying orders.

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If you are interested in learning more about Gut Health, please continue reading…

What are Commensal Bacteria?

The human gut environment is an elaborate ecosystem that includes the gut commensal microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms that are continually interacting with each other and their human host. Through their interactions, the gut microbiota influences multiple metabolic and physiologic functions, such as:

• Regulating the development of the gut;
• Communicating with and mentoring the immune system;
• Preventing growth of harmful microflora species;
• Neutralizing toxins;
• Modulating gastrointestinal hormone production, oxidative response, and barrier function; and
• Producing short chain fatty acids and vitamins (such as biotin and vitamin K).

Research is evolving and the subject is complex, but current science suggests that
individuals with disease are more likely to have alterations or imbalances of their gut microbiota as compared to healthy individuals.

Simply put, higher diversity and optimal relative abundance patterns are associated with a more optimal state of gut health.

What are Commensal Bacteria?

The human gut environment is an elaborate ecosystem that includes the gut commensal microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms that are continually interacting with each other and their human host.

Through their interactions, the gut microbiota influences multiple metabolic and physiologic functions, such as:

• Regulating the development of the gut;
• Communicating with and mentoring the immune system;
• Preventing growth of harmful microflora species;
• Neutralizing toxins;
• Modulating gastrointestinal hormone production, oxidative response, and barrier function; and
• Producing short chain fatty acids and vitamins (such as biotin and vitamin K).

Research is evolving and the subject is complex, but current science suggests that individuals with disease are more likely to have alterations or imbalances of their gut microbiota as compared to healthy individuals.

Gut Microbiota Clinical Association Summary (PDF)

How are Commensal Bacteria Assessed in the Lab?

The gut microbiota are primarily anaerobes, organisms only capable of surviving in an environment without oxygen. Because of this, anaerobic bacteria have been historically challenging to evaluate through culture. As a result, non-culture techniques have increasingly been used to advance the understanding of the gut ecosystem. These techniques include the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to identify gene sequences for specific bacterial targets. The GI Effects® Stool Profiles employs this strategy to view gut commensal microflora in a highly innovative way.

What are Key Parameters of Commensal Bacteria Balance?

Much of the understanding elaborated by the molecular techniques mentioned above has focused on the state of gut microbial biodiversity (the variety of bacterial genera/species found in the gut) and relative abundance (the relative quantities of each of these genera/species present in the gut).

Why is biodiversity important? Studies suggest that higher microbial diversity is associated with a greater ability of the gut to deal with stressors such as opportunistic pathogens or dietary changes. In addition, multiple associations can be found in the literature between reduced microbial diversity and clinical conditions such as:

• Pathogenic infections
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Obesity and metabolic disorders
• Autism
• Allergic disorders
• Neuropsychiatric conditions.

Furthermore, the 24 PCR targets on the GI Effects Stool Profiles were selected because published literature suggests that the relative abundance of these particular organisms is associated with clinical conditions relevant to our customers. The organisms that comprise the 24 PCR targets are part of a complex microbial network with numerous interactions among each other and their host. Therefore, the primary value of Genova Diagnostic’s system biology approach to assessing the gut microbiome is in profiling clinically relevant patterns of organisms and metabolites of this community rather than focusing on the levels of any specific commensal organism.

Simply put, higher diversity and optimal relative abundance patterns are associated with a more optimal state of gut health.

What is the Diversity Association Graphic?

The Diversity Association (DA) graphic is a global biomarker of overall gut health status and serves as a proxy measure of gut biodiversity. Specifically, the Diversity Association graphic represents the results of a proprietary algorithm based on selected commensal targets that appear to correlate with gut health status.

Diversity Association is graphically represented on a vertical ascending scale reflecting lower to higher overall diversity. In the gut, higher diversity is associated with gut health.

• A Diversity Association indicator in the lower half of the graphical bar indicates a high likelihood that a patient’s gut is not healthy
• A Diversity Association in the upper quartile of the graphical bar indicates high likelihood that a patient’s gut is healthy

There are no other commercially available measures of gut diversity. The clinical utility of the Diversity Association is based on a growing body of research demonstrating that lower gut diversity is associated with clinical disease. As such, therapeutic interventions to restore gut balance (including dietary manipulation, prebiotics and/or probiotics, as well as other clinical strategies to heal the gut) are consistent with emerging clinical science on biodiversity.

What is the Relative Abundance Graphic?

The Relative Abundance (RA) graphic is a visual representation of the proportion of each assayed commensal target — grouped into their respective phyla — relative to:

• The sum total of all commensal targets measured;and
• The composite results of a healthy cohort

The relative abundance of each phylum represented in the patient’s sample is expressed as a stacked bar graphic, shown in comparison to the composite levels seen in a healthy cohort. The Relative Abundance results (combined with the Diversity Association results) serve as global markers of gut health status and microbial balance.

Bacterial balance is a key factor for a healthy gut.Although research is dynamic and evolving, generalizations for a representative microbiome have been described in the literature at the phylum level.

Although each individual has a unique set of bacteria,comparison of the RA at the level of the phyla for an individual against a characterized healthy cohort can support effective clinical interventions, particularly in those individuals with a pronounced imbalance.

• Significantly lower total RA (compared to healthy cohort) may represent gut microbiota imbalance due to low beneficial commensal organisms.
• Significantly higher total RA (compared to healthy cohort) may represent gut microbiota imbalance due to microbial overgrowth.

What therapeutic options are appropriate when the DA and/or RA appear imbalanced?

Targeted therapy with dietary manipulation, prebiotics, probiotics, and/or antimicrobials to heal the gut may modulate commensal bacteria levels resulting in:

• A general restoration to robust levels;
• A restoration or reduction of specific imbalanced species or groups;
• No change, which may demonstrate potentially inadequate or inappropriate interventions, requiring an adjustment in therapeutic choices.

Testing We Recommend:

GI Effects® Stool Profile

The GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile is the stool test of choice for optimizing clinical value in managing gut health and has been enhanced to now offer:

• Further insight into gut flora by identifying 24 Commensal Bacteria targets using PCR technology
• Identification of parasites using O&P technology
• Biomarkers indicating levels of digestive and absorptive functions, as well as potential issues with gut inflammation and
• immunology

Alcat Food Sensitivity Test

Alcat Gut Health Profile

The new Gut Health Profile (GHP) from Cell Science Systems is the most comprehensive Celiac & GlutenSensitivity screening tool available as it combines genetic, antibody and cellular analysis into one convenient test.

Are Hidden Food Sensitivities Making You Sick?

Diet plays a critical role in preventing a wide range of degenerative diseases and premature aging. The immune system should react appropriately and protect against infection when introduced to harmful or infectious agents like viruses or bacteria. Unfortunately for some, exposure to common foods, chemicals or molds may trigger chronic activation of the immune system.

For over 20 years, the ALCAT (Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody Test) has been a useful tool for managing a wide variety of conditions linked to chronic activation of the immune system. These conditions include:

• Digestive Disorders
• Migraines
• Obesity
• Chronic Fatigue
• ADD
• Aching Joints
• Skin Disorders
• Arthritis, and more…

How it Works?

The ALCAT test was developed to measure personalized nutrition at the cellular level. It is a simple blood test that measures the body’s cellular response to challenges from a wide array of substances including foods, additives, colorings and chemicals. The individual’s cellular reactivity after exposure of the blood sample to the various test agents, versus its own baseline control, tells us which substances may be causing a sensitivity-related response in the body. Following testing, a 4-day rotational diet is provided to the patient.

Comprehensive Wellness 6 – 100 Food Panel – $350.00

Almond

Comprehensive Wellness 6 – 20 Food Additives/Colorings

• Aspartame
• Benzoic Acid
• Blue #1
• Blue #2
• Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA)
• Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT)
• Erythritol
• Green #3
• MSG
• Polysorbate 80
• Potassium Nitrate
• Red #1 & Red #40
• Saccharine
• Sodium Sulfite
• Sorbic Acid
• Sucralose
• Yellow #5 & Yellow #6
• Xylito

View a sample Alcat test result (PDF).

Our General Protocol for Building a Healthy Gut and Immune System

Remove:

• Stress
• Genetically Modified Foods
• Microbes/yeast/pathogens/bacteria
• Food sensitivities (Gluten, Dairy, Corn, Soy, Peanuts, Eggs)
• Toxins – xenobiotics (glyphosate), plastics, pesticides, etc…

Replace with:

• Digestive enzymes
• Hydrochloric Acid if indicated
• Bile acids
• Botanicals

Reinoculate and Rebuild Diversity of Gut Flora

• Probiotics: bifidobacteria and lactobacillus
• Prebiotics: inulin, FOS, arabinogalactans
• Fiber – chia seed, ground flax, psyllium
• Saccromyces Boulardii in indicated

Repair:

• Vitamins and minerals
• Immune Support
• Antioxidants
• Anti-Inflammatories
• Mucosal healing agents

Rebalance: (lifestyle modifications)

• Adequate sleep
• Exercise
• Clean Diet
• Mindful eating
• Stress reduction
• Emotional healing
• Prayer and meditation

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