Posted on 10/21/2024 8:01:46 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Are back problems influenced by your gut? Researchers think there may be a connection.
In a paper, researchers looked at patients with and without lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis to examine the differences in gut microbiome in the two groups.
The researchers collected disk samples from surgery and imaging, along with blood, stool and saliva samples in those without and those with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. This often common condition involves slippage of one vertebral body over another due to intervertebral disk or facet joint degeneration—and can lead to pain, disability and surgery.
The cause is relatively unknown and has been under heated debate, but researchers theorize that the gut microbiome could stimulate systemic inflammation, alter one's metabolism and/or expose one to bacterial invasion that can lead to back disorders.
"What we found was interesting," Samartzis said. "When we compared these two groups of patients in terms of their age, sex, weight, pain, diet, alignment, pain profiles, etc., there was no difference between them. The only difference was largely and significantly noted in the gut microbiome—the gut bacteria."
"There were a few very significant gut bacteria that had a big spike, which happen to be associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lower back. The association of these bacteria to spondylolisthesis was as high as threefold."
The study included 33 people over the age 50, 12 of whom did not have lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and 21 who did. The individuals with spondylolisthesis had higher levels of pro-inflammatory bacteria in their gut.
"This discovery significantly broadens our understanding of clinically relevant degeneration of the spine that can oftentimes be debilitating," Samartzis said. "Our work has the potential to lead to new treatment options for back pain sufferers that should be more targeted, in this case focusing on the gut.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“Subjects with LDS exhibited distinct differences at the phylum level, with a significantly higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio compared to non-LDS (p = 0.003).”
This is an actual ratio of two common bacterial families. A higher ratio is tied to more inflammation, according to other research papers I reviewed.
Interestingly, eating nearly all types of fiber increases both, which would not help the ratio. However, the one that specifically can greatly lower it is psyllium fiber.
So consider adding psyllium fiber to potentially address a high Firmicutes to Bacteroidota population ratio.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.70005
The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio: A Relevant Marker of Gut Dysbiosis in Obese Patients?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7285218/
Comparative Effect of 22 Dietary Sources of Fiber on Gut Microbiota of Healthy Humans in vitro
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8282825/pdf/fnut-08-700571.pdf
The gut seems to affect a lot of different types of health, including mental health and hormonal health!
All well and good.
What are you supposed to do about it?
Or was that buried in there somewhere?
I mention that in my response above.
Here’s what to do about it: eat and drink probiotics. Kombucha is an alcohol- free drink I buy at Safeway, it’s full of probiotics. Comes in a lot of flavors. All the stores in my neighborhood carry some kind of kombucha.
Yogurt is full of probiotics too. Nancy’s Probiotic Yogurt has the most, but all good yogurt has probiotics. I like nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt with blueberries or mango chunks mixed in for dessert. Could be breakfast too.
Oh, yeah!
Because combined drinking kombucha, consuming yogurt and eating commercially produced probiotics is panacea to gut health.
Whooda thunk! The elixir of life!!! All clinics may now close.
(Note: I have a bridge for sale)
I have AS (ankylosing spondylitis). I try to eat lots of yogurt, kraut, and kimchee and take plenty of turmeric to keep inflammation down. Fasting also seems to help as well.
I have been told by Dr’s that it is congenital. And they tried to get me on RXs.
My lady friend in Spokane and I both tried kombucha and liked it. Also kefir.
I’m 88 and in perfect health. I’ve lived in this town for 16 years and ten years ago had a cold that lasted five days. My MD didn’t think I needed a covid shot.
I take one prescription drug and have blood pressure like a teenager’s. Weigh 112., great posture, walk at least half a mile every day., a mile in the summer. So clearly, I’m doing something right.
And you thought that was sarcasm.
Oh, the humanity!!!
(kudos to you, but what you describe is far from a solution. Best of health to you. Seriously.)
“Because combined drinking kombucha, consuming yogurt and eating commercially produced probiotics is panacea to gut health.”
It would have the opposite effect on me, because just the smell of those things triggers my gag reflex and I’m running for the bathroom. When Hubby eats yogurt I have to leave the room. Ew
Your ultimate biome....how to make it at home Must see......
Fix Your Gut with ONE Microbe >>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZV1oYv5Ddo&t=658s
“My MD didn’t think I needed a covid shot.”
Sounds like a keeper.
That’s a good thing.
The fiction that eating such things exclusively generate good gut health is a commercial fabrication and the perceived health/longevity are technically an illusion.
Genetics plays a role for some - a distinct minority, and I am not among them - but for most it’s a recipe for disaster because it promotes dysbiosis - ESPECIALLY in conjunction with the American diet - which is when the bad stuff slowly takes over the gut and transforms health so gradually that nearly all take the wrong actions...and ‘doctors’ are no help whatsoever.
I hope ‘hubby’ opens his eyes.
There really isn’t ANYTHING in our body that is not effected (sorry I stink at affect vs effect) by our gut microbiome. Alcohol, sugar, processed foods, glyphosate are all some of the things that destroy healthy microbiome balance in our gut- and it happens quickly.
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