PLT Test Blog

  We have seen in previous posts that certain metabolites produced in the gut can worsen existing autism and even create autism in mouse models. Much has been written about propionic acid, which when produced in the gut, rather than the beneficial butyric acid, causes behavioral problems.   This is what underlies the Nemechek Protocol ,  developed by Patrick Nemecheck, DO.   In his therapy you try to increase butyric acid production using inulin as a dietary fiber.  It does work for some people, but they are in the minority; in a small group it makes matters worse. We also saw that P-cresol, another chemical produced by fermentation in the gut, can trigger autistic behaviors. P-Cresol, like Propionic acid – a cause of Transitory Autism for some and a further burden for others A few years ago in the research we did come across a “wonder” bacteria called B. fragilis ( Bacteroides fragilis) .   This bacterium was able to reverse autism in the mouse model of...

    Today’s post is about some drugs/supplements that have already been discussed in earlier posts.   Rifaximin, used in cycles, is an effective part of our reader Maja’s therapy, while Sodium Butyrate was highlighted long ago by our reader in Switzerland, Alli. I had a consultation with a gastroenterologist last week and came away with a prescription for Rifaximin, microencapsulated  Sodium Butyrate and Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v. Where we live, these are all inexpensive. Rifaximin is an antibiotic with extra benefits and costs about 7 euros (9 dollars).   A course of Rifaximin can cost $2,000 in the United States. I was pleased to read that the private equity owners of a pharmaceutical company that raised the price of a common thyroid drug by 6000% have just been fined $140 million in the UK. Advanz Pharma and former private equity owners were fined £100m by markets watchdog Perhaps some of our US readers should query the crazy price of drugs in the US...

Not all stools were created equal There was a comment recently left on this blog posing the question of what makes a good donor for FMT ( Fecal Microbiota Transplantation), or a “poop transplant” in plain English. FMT is actually an approved therapy for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Research has shown   FMT to be more effective than the antibiotic vancomycin . To quote from the research, “ The infusion of donor feces was significantly more effective for the treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection than the use of vancomycin” . FMT might not be for discussion at the dinner table, but it is highly effective in some instances. FMT is actually far more widely used than you might imagine.   In one of today’s papers from China they had treated 1,387 people using 20 donors, for a wide variety of conditions. In the US, autism researchers at Arizona State University showed a benefit that was maintained after a period of two years. Autism symptoms reduced nearly 50 p...