Recurrent UTIs linked to gut microbiome, chronic inflammation (Butyrate, available mostly from fiber-eating gut bacteria, is needed)

Medical Xpress / Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis / Nature Microbiology ^ | May 3, 2022 | Scott Hultgren et al

[ConservativeMind]

One of the greatest frustrations regarding urinary tract infections (UTIs) is that they so often recur. UTIs are caused by bacteria in the urinary tract and characterized by frequent and painful urination. A round of antibiotics usually clears up the symptoms, but the relief is often temporary: A quarter of women go on to develop a second UTI within six months. Some unfortunate individuals get UTIs over and over, and require antibiotics every few months.

At the same time, repeated cycles of antibiotics wreak havoc on the community of helpful bacteria that normally live in the intestines, the so-called gut microbiome. Women with recurrent UTIs in the study had less diverse microbiomes that were deficient in an important group of bacteria that helps regulate inflammation, and a distinct immunological signature in their blood indicative of inflammation.

Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from the intestines that get into the urinary tract. To understand why some women get infection after infection and others get one or none, Hultgren teamed up with Broad Institute scientists.

The difference between the women who got repeated UTIs and those who didn't, surprisingly, didn't come down to the kind of E. coli in their intestines or even the presence of E. coli in their bladders. Both groups carried E. coli strains in their guts capable of causing UTIs, and such strains occasionally spread to their bladders.

The real difference was in the makeup of their gut microbiomes. Patients with repeat infections showed decreased diversity of healthy gut microbial species, which could provide more opportunities for disease-causing species to gain a foothold and multiply. Notably, the microbiomes of women with recurrent UTIs were particularly scarce in bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory effects.

[ConservativeMind]

Butyrate is mostly produced in the gut from fiber conversion by certain strains of bacteria we normally have, but could be in tiny amounts. It’s possible eating more fiber and/or taking a broad-spectrum probiotic could counter this.

One probiotic option with a bacteria known to produce butyrate (Clostridium butyricum) is AOR, Probiotic 3. Other bacteria (like Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum) don’t seem to be in any probiotic formulas I quickly sampled.

[ConservativeMind]

Additional sources:

Clostridium butyricum

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_butyricum

Butyrate Producers as Potential Next-Generation Probiotics: Safety Assessment of the Administration of Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum to Healthy Volunteers

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222043/

[ConservativeMind]

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[drSteve78]

Too much coffee, carbonated sodas, can alter the gut pH and affects both good and bad bacteria.

[BipolarBob]

Frequent irrigation of the bladder by copious amounts of IPA or lager will do the same thing. I think it has to do with the Vitamin P in it.

[ConservativeMind]

Another study:

A four-strain probiotic exerts positive immunomodulatory effects by enhancing colonic butyrate production in vitro

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851731830838X

[patriotfury]

Good info -

[Faith65]

Thanks.
BKMK

[Raycpa]

Bookmark

[Mercat]

Add me please

[MayflowerMadam]

I’ve been taking D-Mannose (a type of sugar) for a couple years now, and it has helped a lot. The word is similar to the words in the article: “an experimental drug based on the sugar mannoside”.

Anyhow, FWIW...

[the OlLine Rebel]

Wow, does this apply to me.

Definite ping.

[telescope115]

I drink 1, maybe 2 cups a day, and soda later on. With all the stuff I have going on, I really should change.

[Portcall24]

I’ve had four UTIs in the last 5 months and I’m a guy. It’s no fun.

[the OlLine Rebel]

That’s horrible!

Starting in 2014 I was getting UTI every other month - with “the other” infection usually in between. IOW, I felt horrible almost permanently. (It’s horrible feeling like you perpetually have to go potty and it’s painful, but you know it’s pointless.)

Finally in 2017, my urogyno got me what I consider the only drug that has changed my life - UROGESIC. Very difficult to get - lots of doctors and pharmacies don’t know what it is and have a hard time finding it (just went thru another round of trying to get Rx filled).

I have many chronic problems and many drugs, and this is the only one I KNOW makes a difference!

If I’m unlucky, I might have 2 UTIs a year - usually because of drug supply problems!

It is miraculous!

[ckilmer]

can you recommend a probiotic that enhances butyrate production?

[ConservativeMind]

Did you not read Post #1?