Insights & Discussion
Acupuncture shows promising results in managing autoimmune diseases by potentially regulating immune responses.
The methodology of the study involved a comprehensive review of how acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, may be employed as a treatment method for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The research was based on existing knowledge and accumulating data, investigating the role of acupuncture in regulating immune responses during these conditions.
The discussion of the results revealed that acupuncture showed promise in managing these diseases. It was noted that the positive outcomes observed might be linked to the potential of acupuncture to regulate abnormal immune responses which are characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Despite the fact that the precise mechanism through which this achieved is not fully understood, the findings indicate a promising alternative method of managing autoimmune conditions.
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Despite diet being key in shaping gut microbiota, it surprisingly does not impact the treatment outcomes in individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
2024 Rheumatology International Re-evaluation of dietary interventions in rheumatoid arthritis: can we improve patient conversations around food choices? Sharma P, Brown S, Sokoya EM
Review Article Diet Rheumatoid Arthritis
The process used to understand this paradox involved an umbrella review. This is an examination of multiple research studies and papers that address a similar question, in this case, the effects of diet on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Through a comprehensive analysis of various scientific studies, researchers sought to determine if there was a meaningful link between diet and outcomes in RA patients.
The results of this study revealed an unexpected conclusion. Despite the gut microbiota's critical role in shaping the risk of RA, the data showed that diet, which is a dominant factor in shaping our gut microbiota, did not appear to affect the treatment outcomes in individuals with RA. This finding is surprising given the generally accepted understanding of the influence of diet on gut health and correlates with disease states. This conclusion introduces a new perspective in the understanding of RA and its relationship with diet.
Intermittent fasting may potentially influence autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, by reducing inflammation and supporting cellular repair mechanisms.
2023 Autoimmunity Reviews Intermittent fasting: A promising dietary intervention for autoimmune diseases Barati M, Ghahremani A, Namdar Ahmadabad H
Systematic Review Autoimmune Diseases Intermittent Fasting Rheumatoid Arthritis
Extensive research was done through several electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Rigorous inclusion criteria were applied to filter the most relevant studies on the effects of intermittent fasting on autoimmune diseases. No reference to further research trials was mentioned in the methodology.
The results indicate a potential link between intermittent fasting and the management of certain autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus exhibited improvements owing to the reduction in inflammatory markers, improvement in gut microbiota, and enhanced cellular repair resulting from autophagy induced by intermittent fasting. However, results concerning other autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid diseases, and psoriasis were inconclusive.
Rheumatoid arthritis-specific inflammation can be linked directly to the intestinal microbiota, thus, nutritional interventions against gut dysbiosis could function as a causal therapeutic approach.
2023 Journal of Clinical Medicine Intestinal Microbiota Reduction Followed by Fasting Discloses Microbial Triggering of Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Häupl T, Sörensen T, Smiljanovic B, Darcy M, Scheder-Bieschin J, Steckhan N, et al.
Clinical Study Inflammation Rheumatoid Arthritis
The study initiated by reducing the intestinal microbiome in 20 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients through bowel cleansing and a week of fasting, limiting the intake to 250 kcal/day. It also employed immune monitoring and sequencing of the microbiome. A control group constituting patients with metabolic syndrome was incorporated to serve as a non-inflammatory baseline. To understand the fluctuation and impact on disease activity, disease activity scores were calculated and cytometric profiling was performed, tracing up to 46 different surface markers. Additionally, serum levels of certain cytokines and indicators of mucosal barrier disruption were monitored.
The change in intestinal microbiota, i.e., the effect of fasting on arthritogenic bacteria and the shift in microbial composition, was analyzed using sequencing. The detection of more eukaryotic, predominantly fungal colonizers in RA patients was also observed to understand their potential involvement. Finally, the study investigated the observed increase in endogenous cortisol levels during fasting.
Magnesium, essential for harmonising nerve signals and preserving the blood-brain barrier, may be linked to neurodegenerative disorders when its balance is disrupted.
2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences Magnesium and the Brain: A Focus on Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Maier JAM, Locatelli L, Fedele G, Cazzaniga A, Mazur A
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The researchers performed a narrative review, beginning with a quick overview of the role of magnesium in the brain. Magnesium is crucial for healthy nerve signal transmission and the upkeep of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood. Then, they discussed evidence suggesting a connection between disrupted magnesium balance and a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.
In the discussion of the results, it was posited that a deficiency in magnesium might contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation, which is common in many illnesses. Specifically, they argued that such inflammation in the brain is a characteristic feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The review found evidence that disruptions in the body's magnesium balance could be associated with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.
Acupuncture, when used as an integrative therapy in conjunction with traditional treatments, significantly improves the quality of life in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
2022 Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Acupuncture for multiple sclerosis: A literature review Khodaie F, Abbasi N, Kazemi Motlagh AH, Zhao B, Naser Moghadasi A
Review Article Acupuncture Multiple Sclerosis
In the methodology of this study, the PUBMED database was meticulously searched in September 2021, for English articles or at least ones with English abstracts, surfacing every article published from the inception of the literature up until the latter part of 2021. The search terms included keywords such as 'acupuncture', 'electroacupuncture', and 'multiple sclerosis' in the titles and abstracts. Out of the 75 articles discovered, just a little over a third, precisely 31 articles, were incorporated into this study.
The discovery from the methodology outlined was that acupuncture provides an array of benefits for Multiple Sclerosis patients. These benefits are primarily seen in the regulation of the neuro-immune system, enhancement of life quality, fatigue reduction, improved bladder functionality, diminished limb spasm and pain, deceleration of disease progression, and decreased relapses. Traditional Chinese acupuncture and scalp acupuncture were observed to be particularly helpful in alleviating Multiple Sclerosis symptoms such as fatigue, neural functional deficits, pain, gait abnormalities, and bladder dysfunction, alongside reducing relapse occurrences. This makes acupuncture a viable integrated therapy option for patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
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—Rachael L 7 Apr 2022