The intestine is much more than just a tube for food. Here food, bacteria and their excretion interact with each other. Depending on how the so-called microbiome is equipped, which bacteria are present and in what proportion, the intestine has different effects on our immune system and even on ours brain. That is why one sometimes speaks today of the gut.
Of course, what we eat can affect the structure of our intestinal flora. With our food we can influence which bacteria are present in which part in the intestine. Substances such as propionic acid, which is a short-chain fatty acid, and its salt, the propionate, have a special influence on the microbiome and on our immune system: They promote regulatory T cells. And these are exactly the cells that can slow down an excessive autoimmune response. Normally, intestinal bacteria produce the substance in sufficient quantities, but in MS patients there is often little of it in the intestinal flora.
Propionate in MS as an add-on to therapy
The suspicion that propionic acid – in addition to course-modifying therapies – could have a positive effect on multiple sclerosis has been around for a while: amsel.de had reported.
A team from the Neurological Clinic of the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) in St. Josef Hospital is now providing the evidence. The international study led by Prof. Dr. Aiden Haghikia, published yesterday in the renowned Cell magazine, provides the proof: Propionic acid, taken in addition to MS medication, can reduce the relapse rate, curb disability progression in the long term and possibly also reduce brain atrophy, i.e. the excessive loss of brain tissue. The investigations on this are still ongoing.
The team was not only able to transfer the positive experiments from the Petri dish to the patient, but in cooperation with the Max Delbrück Center Berlin and the nutritional sciences at the University of Halle-Wittenberg also showed that, above all, younger MS patients started their illness have a propionic acid deficiency. Also interesting: after only 2 weeks the number of so-called Tregs was normalized. And a positive influence on the brain loss could be measured.
Emmental cheese contains propionate
Israeli scientists had developed a gut model to study the microbiome. Together with them, the RUB researchers were able to show how propionic acid strengthens the regulatory cells: The propionate changes the mitochondria, which can better supply the regulatory T cells with energy. This creates more Tregs. Haghikia believes that researching the intestine, and especially the intestinal flora, will produce further therapies for diseases.
Propionate, i.e. the salt of propionic acid, is contained in (longer-stored) Emmental cheese, and of course around the holes. In the past, the material was even added to bread. Back then, you would have had to eat about six slices of bread a day to get 1,000 mg of propionate. Propionic acid is a dietary supplement. Self-medication on your own is not recommended, especially if they are only of “technical purity”. First, larger studies have to confirm the effect.
More on propionic acid / propionate in multiple sclerosis …
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