+100%-

Tomorrow in a webinar the  CFIDS Association of America will provide the results of Shukla’s study looking at the effects of exercise on gut flora and gut permeability in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

gut system

The CAA funded gut study will give us a in-depth look at the gut flora found in people with chronic fatigue syndrome

We know the gut is affected in ME/CFS; we just don’t know how much and what role it plays.  Low levels of good gut bacteria,  leaky gut, high rates of enterovirus infection (stomach),  and gastrointestinal complaints have all been found in ME/CFS. Now, not only is Shukla going to give us a really comprehensive look at the gut flora in ME/CFS but we’re going to see how much exercise, the big bug-a-boo in this disorder, affects it.

If it does then a new treatment avenue and a new understanding of this disorder opens up.  This is a small study – a pilot study – but the word thus far has been that  the findings are ‘significant’.

Exercise and the Gut

Exercise was a key part of the Shukla study so let’s take at look at what happens to th gut when we exercise.

exercise

Reduced blood flows and gut lining problems after exercise can take their toll – even in some healthy people

Exercise, even in healthy people, puts a lot of strain on the gut because of the need to direct blood to the muscles and away from the gut. In healthy people this isn’t a problem; in fact, the gut uses only about half of the oxygen available to it, so it’s easily able to shunt oxygen-rich blood to the muscles when asked to. That doesn’t mean there are no effects, though; blood flows to the gut drops dramatically during exercise and digestion and the passage of foods through the gut slows.

This is all made possible through our old friend, the always-activated sympathetic nervous system. We might expect problems to occur in a system that’s already beat up in ME/CFS but gut problems can occur even in healthy people with fine autonomic nervous systems  during exercise.

Fifty percent reductions in gut blood flows during even moderate (submaximal)  exercise commonly occur and can reach 80% during maximal exercise.  These drops in oxygen levels can damage the tips of the villi that  transport nutrients into the blood. If blood flows are reduced significantly enough an ‘ischemic state’ producing high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation could harm the lining of the gut.

Bacterial Toxins

bacteria

Bacterial toxins leaking into the bloodstream from the gut could produce fatigue, pain, and other symptoms

Either way, a messed up gut lining can allow bad actors such as endotoxins and inadequately digested proteins to gain entry to the bloodstream where they’ll be met by a nice strong immune response; i.e. the inflammation some researchers believe is so damaging in this disorder.  Some endotoxin leakage may be common and is usually easily dealt but prolonged, vigorous exercise can produce ‘endotoxemia’ even in healthy people.

Increased levels of bacterial endotoxins called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can occur after even short bouts of ‘exhaustional exercise’ in healthy people. Increased antibody levels to LPS that were associated with markers of immune activation (ie inflammation)  have been found in ME/CFS – during rest.

The fatigue, autonomic nervous system symptoms, flu-like symptoms, sadness, and irritability Maes found associated with those antibody levels suggested the escaped gut bacteria might be having a significant immune impact.

Low Blood Volume

Given the low blood volume endemic in ME/CFS and several studies suggesting low oxygen states may occur in the muscles during exercise, we can probably take for granted that gut oxygen levels are not optimum in ME/CFS even before exercise.  The big question – soon to be answered by the CAA’s webinar – is how much even small amounts of vigorous exercise can knock the gut around in people with ME/CFS.

Dr. Shukla compared the entire gut microbiome after exercise in people with ME/CFS compared to controls.  A few studies suggest the gut flora in ME/CFS may be dominated by unhealthy bacteria.

Treatment

Diet

One way to counteract the low blood flows to the gut during exercise may be to eat small, probably liquid meals before you ‘exercise’.  Eating will increase blood flows to the gut but it may also reduce blood flows to the muscles – probably not a good thing given they may already be in a low oxygen state.

Eating directly after activity could help restore blood flows to the gut more quickly….but if, as has been proposed, an ischemic state is causing problems in the muscles after exercise, doing so may interfere with muscle repair. The best dietary advice might be to take blood volume enhancers (salt loading, NUUN, electrolyte drinks) before and after exercise.

Gut Enhancing Substances

Maes found that gut-enhancing substances such as glutamine, N-acetyl cysteine, and zinc in combination with a leaky gut diet were helpful in ME/CFS.   One review article suggested that glutamine, arginine, citrulline, nitrate, and nitrite (green leafy vegetables) supplementation may help.  Since NSAIDs can decrease blood flow and cause bleeding in the upper gut they should be avoided.

Probiotics

probiotics

Probiotics may play a key role in replenishing the gut flora in ME/CFS; figuring how the best way to do that will be important

If the Shukla study finds abnormal gut flora either before or after exercise probiotics and antibiotics are going to get a lot of interest.   Logan took some pains to point out in his review article that a lot remains to be learned about probiotic supplementation and health. Studies examining probiotic effects in athletes are becoming fairly common.

Giving trained athletes probiotics appeared to decrease intestinal permeability and had some effect on oxidative stress and cytokine levels in one study.  Probiotics strongly reduced oxidative stress levels in another study. Daily administration of probiotics reduced the incidence of infection in one study but not another.

The variable results may reflect the different strains of probiotics used. The field is still early in the game of determining which probiotics work best for different conditions.  The CAA’s study should give us a much finer-tuned idea of which bacteria to supplement/experiment but the study was small and may not reflect what’s going on in the community at large.

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