Fatty liver worsened by leaky gut and bacterial overgrowth

Research published in the June issue of the journal Hepatology has found patients with an advanced form of fatty liver are more likely to have increased intestinal permeability and bacterial overgrowth in their small intestine. The severity of these intestinal conditions correlates with the severity of fatty liver.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the world. It affects one in five to one in three people in western nations. It occurs when excessive fat accumulates within the liver, and can lead to inflammation, scarring and even eventual cirrhosis of the liver.

Poor diet is the main cause of fatty liver disease; it occurs in people who are overweight (particularly on their abdomen), diabetics and people who eat a lot of sugar.

Risk factors for developing fatty liver disease include:

* Obesity

* High carbohydrate diet (sugar, breakfast cereals and foods made of flour)

* Diabetes and Syndrome X (insulin resistance)

* High alcohol intake

* Side effect of some medication

* Autoimmune liver disease

In the early stages of fatty liver, excess fat accumulation is the only change that occurs. However, if left to progress, the liver may develop a type of hepatitis, which causes inflammation inside the liver. This inflammation greatly increases the risk of permanent liver damage. Research has shown that people with “leaky gut syndrome” and high levels of harmful bacteria in their small intestine are far more prone to developing a dangerous form of fatty liver disease.

Leaky gut syndrome occurs when the mucous lining of the intestines becomes irritated and inflamed, making it more porous than it should be. This allows undigested food molecules, bacteria (and their toxins), fungi and other toxins to gain entry into your bloodstream. All blood from the intestines travels to the liver first. If the bowel is toxic, this means a great deal of toxic waste is delivered to the liver each day.

Researchers believe that it is the toxins secreted by gram-negative bacteria in the small intestine (called lipopolysaccharides) that cause most harm to the liver. These toxins stimulate immune cells within the liver, which causes wear and tear, inflammation and tissue damage in the liver.

More about leaky gut syndrome

So how do you know if you have leaky gut syndrome or an overgrowth of bad bacteria? The following symptoms are good indicators:

* Food allergies

* Eczema

* Abdominal bloating after eating

* Indigestion, heartburn or reflux

* Constipation or diarrhea

* Flatulence or burping

These symptoms are extremely common, however they should not be ignored. The health of your gut has an enormous impact on your whole body. The concept that increased intestinal permeability and bad bugs in the gut can contribute to disease was first proposed in 1890 by Llewellyn Jones, who published “Theory of auto-intoxication from gut bacteria”. That statement is very true; we do poison ourselves if we have the wrong gut bacteria inside us.

Intestinal Parasite Cleanse capsules contain powerful herbs that are effective at destroying harmful gut bacteria. This product should be followed by a good probiotic (beneficial bacteria) and a liver tonic like Livatone Plus.

Our book called The Ultimate Detox contains strategies to repair leaky gut syndrome, as well as improve liver health. If you have a fatty liver please be aware that it is reversible in the early stages. Follow our guidelines for liver health on our website, but also be aware of improving your intestinal health.

Reference

Luca Miele, Venanzio Valenza, et al. Increased intestinal permeability and tight junction alterations in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology 2009;49:1877-1887

Dr Cabot’s Case Histories

Many of my patients come to see me asking for help with their immune system because they suffer with some chronic problem or an underlying fragility that makes them prone to recurrent inflammation or infections. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may have helped them to some degree, or in some cases have made them worse, and they realise that they need to turn to nutritional medicine to strengthen their immune system.

Let’s look at some fascinating patients whose cases illustrate what can go wrong when the immune system malfunctions and the wrong treatments are used.

Joanne aged 37, mother of two children and a professional woman working in the health industry.

Joanne came to see me for an unusual auto-immune disease known as Leukocytoclastic vasculitis – wow that’s a mouthful! What does it mean? Click here to see

From now on let’s abbreviate this disease to (LCV). In Joanne’s case this disease came on within a week of having her 18th annual influenza vaccine and manifested as fever, extreme fatigue, body aches and pains, headache, abdominal pain and a rash consisting of smallish purple spots on her lower abdomen and limbs. The cause of all these symptoms was acute inflammation attacking the tiny arteries that supplied her brain, abdominal organs and limbs. The purple spots were bruises caused by the rupture of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in her skin. To suppress the inflammation the doctor gave her a steroid tablet known as prednisolone and after a few weeks the symptoms went away. When Joanne asked the specialists if this disease had been brought on by the influenza vaccine, she got a blank stare and indeed every doctor she asked this question, gave her a blank stare and a non committal “I doubt it”; notwithstanding Joanne will never have another influenza vaccination and neither would I!

Unfortunately for Joanne the LCV kept recurring every few months over the next 4 years, and she gradually deteriorated and developed a tremor in her right hand, memory problems, a stutter and chronic fatigue. She had to sell her business and give up work and spent a lot of the day sleeping in between looking after her children.

Joanne came to see me with great hope and I believed I could help her slowly restore her health and at least prevent progression of the disease. We would aim for less frequent and less severe recurrences of the vasculitis and look for any other causes of vasculitis.

Joanne had extreme inflammation occurring in the small arteries all over her body and I devised a program to reduce this inflammation; let’s take a look at my plan:

Liquid fish oil – one tablespoon three times daily, just before meals. These larger doses of fish oil were essential to provide anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids to her blood vessels. The fish oil would also thin the blood enabling a better peripheral circulation and less tendency to form blood clots in the tiny arteries.

Antioxidant supplements of:

Vitamin C 1000mg three times daily to reduce free radical damage to the vessel walls

Vitamin E 1000 I. U. to protect the lining of her arteries

Selenium 200mcg daily and zinc 30mg daily to reduce free radical damage inflicted on the arteries and to calm her immune system down.

Raw juices made with pineapple, cabbage, carrot, orange, lime, lemon, capsicum and chives. The juices would concentrate the antioxidants from these vegetables and fruits and if she drank 400mls everyday the inflammation in her blood vessels would be much easier to control.

Causes of LCV
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis can be caused by many medications (such as antibiotics etc.), auto-antigens or infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. Immune complexes lodge in the vessel wall, attracting polymorphonuclear leukocytes (white blood cells) that in turn release tissue-degrading substances leading to an acute inflammatory process.

Patient Presentation
Painful and lumpy bruises (known as petechiae or purpura). These bruises or spots normally arise in crops, with common localizations being the legs, lower abdomen and forearms. Necrosis (destruction) of skin tissue can produce spots and/or bruises with black or brown centres. This disorder may affect the skin only, but sometimes can affect the tiny blood vessels that supply the nerves, the kidneys, joints and the heart.

Investigations in those with LCV
The most important thing is to identify the causing agent, be it a drug or a microorganism or viral antigen (such as a vaccination). A good history is important, as is a thorough physical examination, chest X-ray, ESR and biochemical tests of organ function, especially the kidneys. Skin biopsy of the lesions reveals inflammation of the small blood vessels, termed leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), which is most prominent in postcapillary venules. Tests for hepatitis virus, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and cryoglobulins might be indicated.

Congratulations! – You have given birth to a liver tumor

Suzana came to my medical practice seeking help for recurrent discomfort over the area of the liver – meaning the right upper abdomen. She brought along an ultrasound scan of her liver, which showed a lesion in her liver situated near the porta hepatis, which is the part of the liver where the blood vessels and bile ducts enter the liver.

Thankfully this had a benign appearance and according to the radiologist’s report looked like a type of liver tumor called a hemangioma, although it did have an atypical appearance. The patient had been reassured that she did not have a cancerous or malignant tumor of her liver and that it was safe to leave it alone. Nevertheless Suzana continued to experience intermittent discomfort over her liver as well as some indigestion and nausea. Suzana had been on the oral contraceptive pill for 20 years and had recently ceased taking it, as she could not lose weight.

I explained to Suzana that the long term use of oral hormones, such as the oral contraceptive pill, can cause hemangiomas in the liver. A hemangioma is a very vascular tumor made up of a group of enlarged blood vessels and does not become cancerous.

I started Suzana on a liver tonic and a selenium supplement and told her to drink a large glass of raw juice everyday. She was to juice cabbage, red radish, orange, lemon, mint, parsley, basil, coriander, apple and carrot. I also put her on a low carbohydrate diet excluding grains and sugar and told her to eat plenty of raw salads and fruits, legumes, fish, organic eggs, nuts and seeds.

I gave Suzana a request form for a repeat ultrasound scan of her liver in 6 months time and a follow up appointment during which I would review her liver function and symptoms.

Well when Suzana returned 6 months later she told me a fascinating story and one that I had never heard before. She said that one day she experienced quite bad pain over her liver area and had to go to the toilet to have a bowel action. When she looked in the toilet bowel before flushing away her bowel action she was shocked by what she saw. She described a yellow – brown gooey lump of material in the bottom of the toilet bowel that required several flushes of the toilet before it disappeared down the toilet drain. She said the mass in the bottom of the toilet bowl reminded her of molasses and she had never seen this before and said that it was distinct from her feces. After she had passed this gooey gelatinous mass from her bowels she felt much better and over the ensuing weeks she had no further pain over her liver area.

I reviewed her repeat ultrasound scan and lo and behold there was no sign of her liver hemangioma. Her liver scan looked perfectly normal.

My reaction was – wow! Congratulations you have given birth to a liver tumor!

As I always say, of all the organs in the body, the liver is most able to repair and regenerate itself.

Have you had any amazing experiences with healing your liver ?

The Liver and your State of Mind

We have all heard of the term “lilly livered”, sometimes spelt “lily livered.”

You may remember it from Shakespeare’s play Macbeth or when someone used the term to describe a person who becomes frightened easily.

The ancient Greeks would sacrifice an animal before they went into battle with the enemy, and if the animal’s liver was red it was a good sign; however, if the animal’s liver was pale it was considered a bad omen.

The term Lilly livered is colloquially used to describe someone who -

• Has no courage
• Cannot fight back when attacked
• Spooks easily
• Has "no balls"
  

Metaphorically speaking the liver is the site of anger – in other words it stores anger – thus the term “liverish” is often used to describe a grumpy disgruntled person. I must admit that there is some truth in this because many of my patients feel more cheerful and positive when they improve their liver function.

If a person becomes very frightened or fearful, the body releases large amounts of the hormone adrenalin to prepare the body physiologically for a good fight. Adrenaline causes the blood vessels to constrict, which causes blood to be pushed out of the liver into the systemic circulation so that more blood is available to the heart and muscles. This is obviously needed if you have a good fight on your hands! When blood is taken from the liver during this adrenalin reaction, the liver becomes pale – thus the term “lilly livered” can be used physiologically to describe a frightened person.

It is interesting to think about the emotional state of those with a fatty liver, as in this common condition the liver becomes pale because it is infiltrated with fat. The fat reduces the blood spaces in the liver and because fat is a pale white to yellowish colour this gives the appearance of a “lilly liver”.

Courage and mood is not only influenced by your state of mind; your resistance to stress and what you feel you can cope with, has a lot to do with your physical health.

This curious phrase “lilly livered”, gives us food for thought and the possibility that the foods we eat may influence our ability to cope with stress.

So by taking a powerful liver tonic and eating plenty of liver cleansing foods – such as fresh raw fruits and vegetables, fresh green leafy herbs, fresh raw juices and seeds and nuts, will help us to feel physically and mentally prepared for stress and challenging situations.

Do you find you feel grumpy and moody if you party too hard ?

Allergy epidemic in children linked to pain killer use

A large study reported in The Lancet medical journal in September 2008, found strong links between paracetamol use and the onset of allergies during childhood. These allergies included asthma, hay fever and eczema.

I was surprised that “medium use” of paracetamol was considered once a year – to me this is rare use, but even so, giving paracetamol only once a year increased the risk of asthma symptoms by a whopping 61 percent!

High rate of paracetamol use (considered once a month), increased asthma by 3.23 times.

Why does the use of this pain killer increase allergies in children?

I think it’s due to the fact that paracetamol is a known liver toxin and relatively small overdoses can cause serious liver damage.

I do not think it’s sensible, wise, safe or scientific to give a liver toxic pain killer to infants and children who may have a fever or be irritable or crying.

If we upset or overload the liver in children, then their immune system will become sensitised to potential allergens.

Why not return to more natural remedies that will not damage the liver?

Perhaps because medical doctors are no longer trained in their use?

Here are some things that are safe to use for irritable feverish children –

• Vitamin C
• Selenium drops
• Magnesium powder
• Electrolyte drinks
• Herbal extracts containing thyme, olive leaf and rosehips
• A tepid bath to sponge the child down
• A cooling fan
• A gentle massage

Of course the child must be examined by a doctor to exclude meningitis, dehydration, febrile convulsions, middle ear infections and other serious disorders. Once this is done there is no need for the drugs – there is a need for regular observation, temperature control and good hydration.

It’s safer to avoid pain killers, as at a young age the liver is susceptible to damage that may adversely affect the immune system for life.

* Paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the USA

What are your gums telling you about your health?

Periodontal disease is a chronic gum infection that is thought to affect more than 30 percent of the population of the USA at some stage. The infection is caused by the bacteria present in plaque. The infection causes the gums to become inflamed (called gingivitis). If this is allowed to progress, the gums can erode away, along with the bone that holds the teeth in place. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause the loss of teeth.

What causes periodontal disease?

The following factors increase the risk:

• Poor dental hygiene. It is vitally important to brush and floss your teeth each day, and have regular checkups with a dentist.

• Smoking cigarettes is a major risk factor. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the gums, and smokers who eat too few vegetables and fruits are very prone to periodontal disease.

• Stress increases the risk of all infections, including gum infections.

• Some medications cause a dry mouth as a side effect. The reduced saliva increases the risk of gum infections. These medications include some antihistamines, some antidepressants, anxiety medication, diuretics (fluid tablets), some asthma medication and drugs used for Parkinson’s disease. Radiation treatment to the head and neck as part of cancer therapy can damage the saliva glands and cause a chronic dry mouth.

• Lack of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in the diet. Vitamin C deficiency is a major contributor to periodontal disease. People who consume less than 60 mg of vitamin C per day (roughly the amount found in an orange) are nearly one and a half times more likely to develop severe gingivitis than people who consume at least 180 mg of vitamin C. A lack of zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin E also increases the risk of gum disease.

• A high sugar intake. Sugar is fertiliser for bacteria and it weakens your immune system, thereby allowing infections to flourish. Avoid foods containing sugar and foods containing white flour.

Consequences of periodontal disease

Apart from the frightening prospect of losing one’s teeth, periodontal disease has a destructive impact on other parts of the body as well. People with gum disease are at significantly increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is because the bacteria present in the gums travel to other parts of the body and release toxins that cause tissue destruction and inflammation. The bacteria irritate the lining of the arteries that travel to the heart and brain, promoting blood clots and the development of fatty plaques.

Periodontal disease worsens blood sugar control in diabetics; it aggravates lung conditions including bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia. Interestingly, pregnant women with periodontal disease are seven to eight times more likely to give birth prematurely to a low birth weight baby.

Clearly the health of your gums should be a priority!

Preventing periodontal disease

Prevention is always better than cure. The following remedies will help to keep your gums and the rest of your body healthy:

• Eat lot of vegetables. Ideally you would eat two or three cups of chopped vegetables per day. Try to have as wide a variety of vegetables as you can; avoid eating the same few varieties each day. Cooked vegetables are fine but some of the vegetables you eat must be raw. Making your own raw vegetable juices is a tasty way to increase your vegetable intake. Fruit is important too but it is higher in sugar, therefore limit fruit to two servings per day.

• Green tea can protect your gums against infection. Research published in the Journal of Peridontology has found that the antioxidants present in green tea have an anti-inflammatory effect on the gums. Green tea contains 30 to 40 percent water soluble antioxidants (polyphenols), while black tea contains between three and ten percent. This particular study recruited 940 Japanese men aged between 49 and 59. Each cup of green tea consumed had a significantly beneficial effect on the health of the gums.

• Co-enzyme Q10 helps to prevent and treat periodontal disease. Co-Q10 is a powerful antioxidant and recent studies have shown that it has an affinity for gum tissue. 60 mg per day is the recommended dose and it needs to be topically applied to the gums. Most Co-Q10 comes in capsule form, therefore that means bursting the capsule and rubbing the contents on your gums with your finger.

• MSM helps to strengthen the gums. MSM stands for Methyl Sulfonyl Methane. It is a natural form of sulphur, which the body uses to produce connective tissue. The gums have a high requirement for sulphur. Ideally MSM is taken in powder form combined with vitamin C.

Healthy gums reflect a healthy body. Now you know how to keep your gums in top condition.