New research shows that dietary propionate can relieve Parkinsons illness symptoms by boosting gut-brain interaction, using a novel metabolic treatment strategy that bypasses the need to get rid of brain protein aggregates.A research study performed by a group led by Professor Chaogu Zheng from the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has actually unveiled that propionate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), highly reduced neurodegeneration in animal models of Parkinsons illness (PD) by controling interorgan signaling between the intestinal tract and brain.Either preventing propionate breakdown or supplementing propionate through diet reversed PD-associated transcriptional aberration and boosted energy production in the intestine, which in turn promoted neuronal health without the need of distributing the protein aggregates.Such metabolic rescue of neurodegeneration by increasing propionate levels offers crucial brand-new insights into the treatment of neurodegenerative illness. Hence, the group assumed that increasing the levels of propionate may reduce neurodegeneration.Key FindingsIn this study, Professor Zhengs team found that PD animals have lower levels of propionate than typical animals, and increasing the propionate level by either getting rid of dietary vitamin B12 (which induces propionate breakdown) or through direct supplements of propionate saves alpha-syn-induced neuronal death and locomotion defects.Surprisingly, the neuroprotective effect of propionate is mediated by interorgan signaling in between neurons and the intestine. Therefore, the low amount of SCFAs in PD clients may certainly contribute to disease development and intensity, and supplementing propionate through the diet might assist deal with the illness and enhance the symptom, said Professor Zheng, the supervisor of the research project.Because SCFAs are produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, Professor Zheng suggested that adding more fiber-rich food (such as seeds, fruits, nuts, and veggies) can also increase the production of SCFAs by the gut germs, which might have helpful effects on brain health.Reference: “Metabolic rescue of α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration through propionate supplementation and intestine-neuron signaling in C. elegans” by Chenyin Wang, Meigui Yang, Dongyao Liu and Chaogu Zheng, 26 February 2024, Cell Reports.DOI: 10.1016/ j.celrep.2024.113865.
New research study shows that dietary propionate can alleviate Parkinsons illness symptoms by boosting gut-brain communication, using a novel metabolic treatment strategy that bypasses the need to get rid of brain protein aggregates.A research study conducted by a team led by Professor Chaogu Zheng from the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has actually unveiled that propionate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), highly suppressed neurodegeneration in animal designs of Parkinsons illness (PD) by controling interorgan signaling in between the intestine and brain.Either inhibiting propionate breakdown or supplementing propionate through diet plan reversed PD-associated transcriptional aberration and enhanced energy production in the intestine, which in turn promoted neuronal health without the need of dispersing the protein aggregates.Such metabolic rescue of neurodegeneration by increasing propionate levels supplies important new insights into the treatment of neurodegenerative illness. Thus, the group assumed that increasing the levels of propionate may reduce neurodegeneration.Key FindingsIn this research study, Professor Zhengs team discovered that PD animals have lower levels of propionate than regular animals, and increasing the propionate level by either removing dietary vitamin B12 (which induces propionate breakdown) or through direct supplementation of propionate rescues alpha-syn-induced neuronal death and mobility defects.Surprisingly, the neuroprotective impact of propionate is mediated by interorgan signaling between neurons and the intestinal tract. Hence, the low amount of SCFAs in PD patients might certainly contribute to illness development and severity, and supplementing propionate through the diet plan may help deal with the illness and enhance the sign, stated Professor Zheng, the manager of the research study project.Because SCFAs are produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, Professor Zheng recommended that including more fiber-rich food (such as seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruits) can also increase the production of SCFAs by the gut bacteria, which might have helpful impacts on brain health.Reference: “Metabolic rescue of α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration through propionate supplementation and intestine-neuron signaling in C. elegans” by Chenyin Wang, Meigui Yang, Dongyao Liu and Chaogu Zheng, 26 February 2024, Cell Reports.DOI: 10.1016/ j.celrep.2024.113865.