Autoimmune & Inflammation

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Articles​

Consuming an All-Meat Ketogenic Diet for the Long-Term Management of Candida Vulvovaginitis and Vaginal Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A 47-Month Follow-Up Case Report

October 22, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://www.cureus.com/articles/119195-consuming-an-all-meat-ketogenic-diet-for-the-long-term-management-of-candida-vulvovaginitis-and-vaginal-hidradenitis-suppurativa-a-47-month-follow-up-case-report
Journal: Cureus
Publication Date: 10/2022
Summary: This case report describes long-term therapeutic management in a 33-year-old diagnosed with Candida vulvovaginitis and vulvar hidradenitis suppurativa 47 months previously. Candida spp. yeasts are part of many women’s normal vaginal microflora, and the development of vulvovaginal candidiasis is typically a result of a disturbance in the patient’s microbial ecosystem, which manifests itself by intense pruritus, erythema, swelling, and thick white vaginal discharge. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic auto-inflammatory skin condition that causes painful weeping lesions in areas of dense apocrine glands. Although certain mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (e.g., risk factors include smoking, obesity, and family history) have been investigated, a definitive explanation remains elusive.

Nutritional intervention in the form of an all-meat ketogenic diet may be considered therapy in the management of both diseases, as successfully seen in this case report. The patient refused standard of care with oral fluconazole for Candida vulvovaginitis and surgical removal for Hidradenitis suppurativa, and instead consumed a zero-carbohydrate all-meat ketogenic diet mostly of beef with strict adherence to the diet for 43 days in which symptoms ceased.

Key Takeaways

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a skin infection that occurs in areas of the body with skin folds/creases such as the armpit, groin, vulva, etc where the skin becomes red, painful, and drains pus. This patient had hidradenitis suppurativa and a yeast infection in her vulva and vaginal region. She refused antibiotics, and instead did a carnivore diet. After 43 days of the carnivore diet, her symptoms were gone and the infections cleared.

Carnivore Diet Improves Yeast and Skin Infections

The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate mitigates ILC2-driven airway inflammation by regulating mast cell function

October 4, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(22)01278-5?
Journal: Cell Reports
Publication Date: 09/2022
Summary: Ketone bodies are increasingly understood to have regulatory effects on immune cell function, with β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) exerting a predominantly anti-inflammatory response. Dietary strategies to increase endogenous ketone body availability such as the ketogenic diet (KD) have recently been shown to alleviate inflammation of the respiratory tract. However, the role of BHB has not been addressed. Here, we observe that BHB suppresses group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2)-mediated airway inflammation. Central to this are mast cells, which support ILC2 proliferation through interleukin-2 (IL-2). Suppression of the mast cell/IL-2 axis by BHB attenuates ILC2 proliferation and the ensuing type 2 cytokine response and immunopathology. Mechanistically, BHB directly inhibits mast cell function in part through GPR109A activation. Similar effects are achieved with either the KD or 1,3-butanediol. Our data reveal the protective role of BHB in ILC2-driven airway inflammation, which underscores the potential therapeutic value of ketone body supplementation for the management of asthma.

Key Takeaways

Ketone bodies produced during a ketogenic diet have an anti-inflammatory effect. These ketones have even been shown to decrease inflammation in the lungs by suppressing an inflammatory cell type called mast cells. Therefore, ketogenic diets can be used as a supplemental treatment for asthma.

Keto Helps Treat Asthma

The inflammation theory of disease

September 14, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3492709/
Journal: EMBO Reports
Publication Date: 10/2012
Summary: An increasing body of evidence shows that chronic inflammation causes and advances many common diseases. This opens new possibilities for treatment and therapy by blocking the inflammatory processes.

Key Takeaways

Chronic inflammation is a major driver of disease. Especially in conditions associated with prolonged stress such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions and even clinical depression.

What's Causing Chronic Inflammation and Why It's Driving Most Major Diseases

Ketogenic diet and Neuroinflammation

September 14, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32987244/
Journal: Epilepsy Research
Publication Date: 09/2020
Summary: The high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD) is an established treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy with a proven efficacy. The KD is being explored for Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES) and epileptic encephalopathies. There is growing evidence that KD works by targeting dysregulated adaptive and innate immunity that occurs in drug-resistant epilepsy and in refractory status epilepticus. Beyond epilepsy, there are yet additional potential uses in neurological disorders because KD appears to have the broad anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The KD exerts anti-inflammatory action against a variety of experimental models of neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, pain, and spinal cord injury. Anti-inflammatory action of KD appears to be mediated by multiple mechanisms. Ketones bodies, caloric restriction, polyunsaturated fatty acids and gut microbiota modifications might be involved in the modulation of inflammation by the KD.

Key Takeaways

Through various mechanisms, a ketogenic diet protects the nervous system. The anti-inflammatory properties of the ketogenic diet can lead to improvement in neurological diseases such as seizures, MS, Parkinson's, and neuropathic pain.

Protect Your Nervous System with Keto!

How to Tackle the Relationship between Autoimmune Diseases and Diet: Well Begun Is Half-Done

September 14, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8620243/
Journal: Nutrients
Publication Date: 11/2021
Summary: Nutrition and immunity are closely related, and the immune system is composed of the most highly energy-consuming cells in the body. Much of the immune system is located within the GI tract, since it must deal with the huge antigenic load introduced with food. Moreover, the incidence of immune-mediated diseases is elevated in Westernized countries, where “transition nutrition” prevails, owing to the shift from traditional dietary patterns towards Westernized patterns. This ecological correlation has fostered increasing attempts to find evidence to support nutritional interventions aimed at managing and reducing the risk of immune-mediated diseases. Recent studies have described the impacts of single nutrients on markers of immune function, but the knowledge currently available is not sufficient to demonstrate the impact of specific dietary patterns on immune-mediated clinical disease endpoints. If nutritional scientists are to conduct quality research, one of many challenges facing them, in studying the complex interactions between the immune system and diet, is to develop improved tools for investigating eating habits in the context of immunomediated diseases.

Key Takeaways

Dietary choices are related to the function of the immune system. This is because most of the bodies immune system is located in the gut. Thus nutrition and immune system researchers should study the interaction between diet and immune function to improve research quality.

The Link Between Diet And Immune Function Is The Forefront For New Nutritional Research

Very low-calorie ketogenic diet may allow restoring response to systemic therapy in relapsing plaque psoriasis.

May 6, 2020 No Comments

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26559897

Journal: Obesity Research & Clinical Practice

Publication Date: 05/2016

Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic disease associated with overweight/obesity and related cardiometabolic complications. The link between these diseases is likely the inflammatory background associated with adipose tissue, particularly the visceral one. Accordingly, previous studies have demonstrated that in the long-term weight loss may improve the response to systemic therapies. We report a case report of a woman in her 40s suffering from relapsing moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and obesity-related metabolic syndrome, in whom adequate response to ongoing treatment with biological therapy (adalimumab) was restored after only 4 weeks of very low-calorie, carbohydrate-free (ketogenic), protein-based diet. Accordingly, through rapid and consistent weight loss, very low calorie ketogenic diet may allow restoring a quick response to systemic therapy in a patient suffering from relapsing psoriasis. This intervention should be considered in overweight/obese patients before the rearrangement of systemic therapy. Nonetheless, studies are required to evaluate whether very low calorie ketogenic diets should be preferred to common low-calorie diets to improve the response to systemic therapy at least in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Key Takeaways

This case report suggest that a low calorie ketogenic diet that accelerates weight loss can restore the ability of the body to respond to therapy with adalimumab in someone with relapsing plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis Treatment No Longer Working? Try a Ketogenic Diet

The Effect of Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets on Pain in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis

April 29, 2020 No Comments

URL: https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-abstract/21/1/150/5380130?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Journal: Pain Medicine

Publication Date: 01/2020

Summary: Osteoarthritis is the most prominent form of arthritis, affecting approximately 15% of the population in the United States. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become one of the leading causes of disability in older adults. Besides knee replacement, there are no curative treatments for KOA, so persistent pain is commonly treated with opioids, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these drugs have many unpleasant side effects, so there is a need for alternative forms of pain management. We sought to test the efficacy of a dietary intervention to reduce KOA. A randomized controlled pilot study to test the efficacy of two dietary interventions. Subjects. Adults 65–75 years of age with KOA. Participants were asked to follow one of two dietary interventions (low-carbohydrate [LCD], low-fat [LFD]) or continue to eat as usual (control [CTRL]) over 12 weeks. Functional pain, self-reported pain, quality of life, and depression were assessed every three weeks. Serum from before and after the diet intervention was analyzed for oxidative stress. Over a period of 12 weeks, the LCD reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness in some functional pain tasks, as well as self-reported pain, compared with the LFD and CTRL. The LCD also significantly reduced oxidative stress and the adipokine leptin compared with the LFD and CTRL. Reduction in oxidative stress was related to reduced functional pain. We present evidence suggesting that oxidative stress may be related to functional pain, and lowering it through our LCD intervention could provide relief from pain and be an opioid alternative.

Key Takeaways

A low carbohydrate diet may be an alternative to pain medication in those with osteoarthritis. The low carb diet was shown to reduce oxidative stress, functional pain, and self reported pain by the individuals in this study.

Drop The Pain Pills, Eat a Low Carb Diet to Reduce Arthritis Pain

Important roles of dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline in human nutrition and health

February 27, 2020 No Comments

URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00726-020-02823-6

Journal: Amino Acids

Publication Date: 2/2020

Summary: Taurine (a sulfur-containing β-amino acid), creatine (a metabolite of arginine, glycine and methionine), carnosine (a dipeptide; β-alanyl-L-histidine), and 4-hydroxyproline (an imino acid; also often referred to as an amino acid) were discovered in cattle, and the discovery of anserine (a methylated product of carnosine; β-alanyl-1-methyl-L-histidine) also originated with cattle. These five nutrients are highly abundant in beef, and have important physiological roles in anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory reactions, as well as neurological, muscular, retinal, immunological and cardiovascular function. Of particular note, taurine, carnosine, anserine, and creatine are absent from plants, and hydroxyproline is negligible in many plant-source foods. Consumption of 30 g dry beef can fully meet daily physiological needs of the healthy 70-kg adult human for taurine and carnosine, and can also provide large amounts of creatine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline to improve human nutrition and health, including metabolic, retinal, immunological, muscular, cartilage, neurological, and cardiovascular health. The present review provides the public with the much-needed knowledge of nutritionally and physiologically significant amino acids, dipeptides and creatine in animal-source foods (including beef). Dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline are beneficial for preventing and treating obesity, cardiovascular dysfunction, and ageing-related disorders, as well as inhibiting tumorigenesis, improving skin and bone health, ameliorating neurological abnormalities, and promoting well being in infants, children and adults. Furthermore, these nutrients may promote the immunological defense of humans against infections by bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses (including coronavirus) through enhancing the metabolism and functions of monocytes, macrophages, and other cells of the immune system. Red meat (including beef) is a functional food for optimizing human growth, development and health.

Key Takeaways

Taurine, Creatine, Carnosine, 4-hydroxyproline, and Anserine are amino acids discovered in beef and not available from plant based nutrition. These nutriets provide important anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects. These nutrients also have many positive effects on cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurologic health.

Red Meat Is A Health Food

Paleolithic ketogenic diet (PKD) in chronic diseases: Clinical and research data

October 14, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://jevohealth.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=journal

Journal: Journal of Evolution and Health

Publication Date: 03/2019

Summary: In the presentation we give an overview of our clinical experience and research with the paleolithic ketogenic diet (PKD), a diet that was developed by the ICMNI team. Since 2012 we have been exclusively using this approach in the treatment of a wide array of chronic conditions. We use the combined term u201dpaleolithic ketogenicu201d because the diet has its roots in both, the paleolithic and the ketogenic diet. The PKD combines the benefits of the two diets while excluding shortcomings of both diets. We have to emphasise the fact that both the classic version of the ketogenic diet and the popular version of the paleolithic diet are associated with side-effects. The side-effects of the classic ketogenic diet have been well documented through its use over the last hundred years, whereas, the shortcomings of the popular paleolithic diet are less well-known. As examples for the side-effects, we present a patient who, after 7 years on the popular paleolithic diet, developed severe atherosclerosis, and another patient who, after following the classic ketogenic diet for 17 years, developed tophi (deposition of urate crystals in soft tissues) in multiple locations on hands and feet. Since 2012 we have been using the PKD on more than 4000 patients including those with autoimmune diseases, cancer, psychiatric and neurologic conditions. In the presentation we focus on presenting data on type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and cancer patients, as well as showing research data related to intestinal permeability measurements in healthy persons as well as in patients.

Key Takeaways

Combining the Paleo diet with a Ketogenic diet is effective at relieving the pitfalls that each diet has. This combined diet shows to have positive effects on autoimmune conditions, cancer, and psychological and neurologic conditions.

A Carnivore Diet Outperforms Both Paleo and Keto Diets

Effects of Total Red Meat Consumption on Glycemic Control and Inflammation: A Systematically Searched Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of Randomized Controlled Trials (OR22-08-19)

October 3, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://academic.oup.com/cdn/article/3/Supplement_1/nzz028.OR22-08-19/5516820

Journal: Current Developments in Nutrition

Publication Date: 06/2019

Summary: Consuming ≥ vs <0.5 servings/d of red meat showed greater decreases in insulin when carbohydrates were replaced with red meat but lesser decreases in HOMA-IR when macronutrient distributions were matched between intervention and control eating patterns.

Key Takeaways

In individuals with cardiometabolic disease, replacing carbohydrate calories with red meat showed greater reduction in insulin.

Replace Carbs with Red Meat To Drive Insulin Down

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