Vol. 19, No. 1 (February 2010)
Growing Older: Leaky Gut, What To Do
Over the past year, there have been any number of subjects that have become of interest in various aspects of health and nutrition that Albion has put under the microscope, as possibilities for issues of our Albion Research Notes. We can’t always devote an entire issue of one of our Research Notes to every one of these, but we do not want to ignore them either. Especially, when they are concerning items that should be called attention to, and connect to aspects of nutrition and particularly mineral nutrition. Knowing what we do about mineral nutrition and health, minerals can be tied into virtually all aspects of maintaining health and preventing or fighting against a wide variety of pathologies. Different stages of life can also reflect itself in differing needs for mineral nutrition intake. In this issue, we will take a brief look into some items of interest related to findings that can be helpful as we grow older, such as Intestinal Hyperpermeability or leaky gut syndrome (LGS).Growing Older
There are a wide variety of changes associated with aging. Most of them are quite gradual, and take place at a very slow, but regular rate. Some of them can go unnoticed for a while, but they are happening, as sure as the days are passing. Some changes may be more obvious than others. It is often pointed out that after the age of 20, we start to have a drop off in basal metabolic rate (BMR), and eventually, after age 45 a decline in muscle mass (at a rate of 1% per year) and strength will take place. Other neuromuscular changes will take place, as well, including a decline in cognitive function later on. What can be done to fight against or slow these age related changes? Although, so far, nothing has been found to completely stop the onslaught of age related physical decline, there have been found things that we can do to allow ourselves to show the signs of age at a slower rate, which involve changes in lifestyle, such as exercise and dietary changes.
Creatine monohydrate was introduced as a dietary supplement in 1993. Since that time, the benefits of this dietary ingredient have been looked at in many studies. Initially, all of them were involved with aspects of muscle performance and size, and therefore quickly picked up for sports nutrition purposes, which lead to more clinical evaluations involving sports performance.
A few years after the introduction of creatine monohydrate, Albion developed and introduced a form of magnesium creatine chelate (US patent 6,114,379) which is branded as Creatine MagnaPower®. Magnesium creatine chelate has been found to be a more effective form of creatine in clinical studies, causing us to have extended interest in the benefits and uses of creatine ingredients.
Age related sarcopenia and its related loss in strength and endurance are a part of the aging process, as are things involved with cognitive performance. There is an increased incidence of certain neurodegenerative diseases seen as we age, as well- things like Parkinson’s and others related. Over the last several years, much more research has been devoted to the potential usage of creatine to help in all of these matters related to aging and neurodegenerative problems. Frailty Syndrome has become an increasingly recognized predictor of morbidity and mortality in older individuals. There are several components to this syndrome, including sarcopenia (muscle wasting), osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fatigue, and weight loss being other aspects. Creatine is being looked at as a possible part of the therapy to fight against this serious health problem [Altern. Med Rev. 2007; 12(3):246-258].
A number of published clinical studies are demonstrating positive findings for the use of creatine in the elderly. In one such study, a 14 day course of creatine in men and women (ages 64-86) was found to increase upper body grip strength and increase physical working capacity by delaying neuromuscular fatigue, which may be important for maintaining health and independent living in the elderly [J Nutr Health Aging. 2007; 11(6):459-64]. Another study demonstrated that oral creatine increases the anaerobic power and work capacity of sedentary elderly during maximum pedaling tasks, while, yet another study on the elderly shows that creatine plus resistance training enhanced the resistance exercise mediated gains in fat-free mass and strength [Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008; 33(1):213-27]. This is thought to possibly result from a shift in the proportion of mtDNA genotype towards that of a younger adult subsequent to its activation of satellite cells. On the down side, it has been seen that older individuals have a smaller increase in muscle phosphorcreatine after supplementation as compared to younger adults. However, a more recent study suggests that the timing of the ingestion of the creatine in the elderly has an important impact. Taking the creatine near the time of the resistance training sessions may be more beneficial for increasing muscle mass and strength than ingestion at other times of the day [Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008; 33(1): 184-90].
Additionally, more is being discovered about the possible benefits of creatine in cognitive performance in the elderly, as well as having a potential to protect against age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as ALS Huntington’s disease, ischemic stroke and others [Subcell Biochem. 2007; 46:204- 43]. The researchers need to look into all of this much more, but they believe that the potential therapeutic value of creatine supplementation lies in neurodegenerative disorders that have been associated with bioenergetic deficits, such as the ones mentioned.
Intestinal Hyperpermeability
This syndrome occurs when the walls of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) are damaged. Intestinal Hyperpermeability, also known as Leaky Gut Syndrome (allowing fluids or gases to pass). It is a condition that is often overlooked, although many feel it to be quite common. Leaky gut syndrome results from an overly permeable intestinal lining with spaces between the cells of the gut wall. These spaces allow irritants to enter the body where they do not belong (bacteria, toxins, yeasts, and food). This will place an additional strain on the immune system, and cause our detoxification system to work over time.
There are many serious negative outcomes due to LGS (see Table 1). Conditions Linked with LGS). One of the outcomes is a malnutrition leading to a variety of severe mineral deficiencies, such as magnesium and copper, but especially zinc. Zinc is a key mineral to the maintenance of the integrity of the intestinal lining. Studies have shown that zinc supplementation can help resolve leaky gut, by resolving intestinal permeability problems, with doses up to 110mg three times per day for 8 weeks [Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2001; 7(2):94-8].
Weanling Piglets
Creatine Magnapower®, Albion’s magnesium creatine chelate has been shown in clinical studies to be a superior form of creatine. By combining the benefits of magnesium and creatine in a single chelate molecule, Albion has created a nutraceutical ingredient that contains all you need to continuously recycled energy – ATP! (see Figure 1). If the situation calls for creatine then Creatine MagnaPower® is the answer!
Intestinal Hyperpermeability
This syndrome occurs when the walls of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) are damaged. Intestinal Hyperpermeability, also known as Leaky Gut Syndrome (allowing fluids or gases to pass). It is a condition that is often overlooked, although many feel it to be quite common. Leaky gut syndrome results from an overly permeable intestinal lining with spaces between the cells of the gut wall. These spaces allow irritants to enter the body where they do not belong (bacteria, toxins, yeasts, and food). This will place an additional strain on the immune system, and cause our detoxification system to work over time.When the intestinal wall is healthy, only nutrients can pass into the blood stream, but when damaged, much larger particles, such as incompletely digested fats, proteins and toxins can seep through. When this occurs, the body views these substances as foreign, and forms antibodies, causing sudden onset of food allergies to items that had been eaten previously with no problem. LGS can cause environmental allergies that give rise to bad responses to various inhalants and the like. LGS sufferers encounter a variety of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, due to a lack of cells to move minerals and vitamins from the GI tract into the blood (see Figure 3).
The overall therapy for LGS is quite complicated, and involves a variety of things, such as dietary changes, probiotics, and nutritional supplementation, besides dealing with any of the underlying conditions found in the particular individuals. Obviously, a multi mineral product might be a good idea, and a high-dose zinc, such as Albion’s Zinc Glycinate Chelate, or perhaps the Zinc Arginine Chelate for about 8 weeks according to research findings. Zinc is also necessary to maintain the health and integrity of epithelial cells that line the intestines. Cell studies have found zinc is required for intestinal wound healing. Without adequate zinc, wounds do not heal properly. Conversely, supplementation with 12.5 – 50 mcg zinc caused an enhancement of epithelial cell restitution, the initial step of wound healing. Inflammatory bowel disease, a serious intestinal disorder, causes intestinal lesions, which zinc has been found to help heal. Parasites and other intestinal problems can also damage the intestines. Adequate absorption of nutrients depends on an intact intestine, so intestinal injuries can lead to zinc deficiency. This may cause appetite loss and diarrhea, speeding the downward spiral of zinc loss and tissue damage.
Considering the GI problems found in LGS, it would be a good idea to use Albion’s glycinate chelates in the multi mineral intended for someone with LGS, since it has been shown that these mineral forms are the easiest to tolerate, as well as being high in absorption.
Weanling Piglets
Zhang B, et al.
Brit J Nutr; 2009; 102;687-693
The present study was carried out to evaluate the pharmacological effect of Zn in diarrhea in relation to intestinal permeability. Seventy-two weaning piglets, aged 24 d, were allocated to three dietary treatments: (1) control diet without supplemental Zn; (2) control diet supplemented with 2000 mg Zn/kg from ZnO; (3) control diet supplemented with 2000 mg Zn/kg from tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC). At the end of a 14 d experiment period, piglets were weighed, feed consumption was measured, and mucosal barrier function was determined using the lactulose/mannitol test. Expression of mucosal tight junction protein was measured at RNA and protein level. Inclusion of TBZC or ZnO in the diet significantly increased average daily gain (P < 0,01) and average daily feed intake (P < 0,05), while leading to reduced feed conversion ratio (P < 0,05) and faecal scores (P < 0·01). TBZC reduced urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios of weaning piglets (P < 0·05), while dietary supplementation with ZnO tended to reduce urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios (P = 0·061). ZnO or TBZC significantly enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of occludin (P < 0,05) and zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-l) (P < 0·05) in the ileal mucosa. Piglets fed the TBZC-supplemented diet had a higher level of occludin than pigs fed the ZnO-supplemented diet (P < 0,05). The results indicate that Zn supplementation decreased faecal scores and the reduction was accompanied by reduced intestinal permeability, which was evident from the reduced urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios and increased expression of occludin and ZO-l. Therefore, the protective effect of pharmacological levels of dietary Zn in reducing diarrhoea might, at least partly, be associated with reduced intestinal permeability.
Brit J Nutr; 2009; 102;687-693
The present study was carried out to evaluate the pharmacological effect of Zn in diarrhea in relation to intestinal permeability. Seventy-two weaning piglets, aged 24 d, were allocated to three dietary treatments: (1) control diet without supplemental Zn; (2) control diet supplemented with 2000 mg Zn/kg from ZnO; (3) control diet supplemented with 2000 mg Zn/kg from tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC). At the end of a 14 d experiment period, piglets were weighed, feed consumption was measured, and mucosal barrier function was determined using the lactulose/mannitol test. Expression of mucosal tight junction protein was measured at RNA and protein level. Inclusion of TBZC or ZnO in the diet significantly increased average daily gain (P < 0,01) and average daily feed intake (P < 0,05), while leading to reduced feed conversion ratio (P < 0,05) and faecal scores (P < 0·01). TBZC reduced urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios of weaning piglets (P < 0·05), while dietary supplementation with ZnO tended to reduce urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios (P = 0·061). ZnO or TBZC significantly enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of occludin (P < 0,05) and zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-l) (P < 0·05) in the ileal mucosa. Piglets fed the TBZC-supplemented diet had a higher level of occludin than pigs fed the ZnO-supplemented diet (P < 0,05). The results indicate that Zn supplementation decreased faecal scores and the reduction was accompanied by reduced intestinal permeability, which was evident from the reduced urinary lactulose:mannitol ratios and increased expression of occludin and ZO-l. Therefore, the protective effect of pharmacological levels of dietary Zn in reducing diarrhoea might, at least partly, be associated with reduced intestinal permeability.