Subtitle: Researchers from Be Well Hospital in Chennai discover improvements in patients’ UPDRS and constipation scores after 90 days of Nichi-BRITE Beta Glucan supplementation.
In a groundbreaking pilot study conducted at Be Well Hospital in Chennai, India, a unique food supplement derived from the AFO-202 strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans, known as Nichi-BRITE Beta glucans, has shown promising results for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The research, which was presented at the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) 2023 annual meeting, reported improvements in patients’ Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and constipation scores after a 90-day oral consumption of Nichi-BRITE.
Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurological disorder that affects nearly a million people in both the United States and India. One of the key factors contributing to the disease is an imbalance in the gut microbiome, which results in an increase of harmful Enterobacteriaceae. These bacteria produce curli and amyloid proteins, which in turn cause the misfolding of alpha-synuclein proteins in the gut. As these misfolded proteins travel to the brain via the gut-brain-axis, they lead to the formation of Lewy bodies and damage dopamine-secreting cells, ultimately resulting in Parkinson’s disease.
The innovative AFO-202 strain-derived Nichi-BRITE Beta glucans have demonstrated an ability to control harmful gut bacteria while simultaneously promoting the growth of beneficial microbiota. Dr. Dedeepiya, a co-author of the study, highlighted the oral supplement’s proven safety and efficacy in the pilot trial. He also expressed optimism about the potential for Nichi-BRITE to become a valuable adjunct therapy for synucleinopathies like Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy.
The study’s neurologist, Dr. Nithyanandam, emphasized the importance of exploring Nichi BRITE’s potential as a drug adjuvant in synucleinopathies through larger, more comprehensive studies. He noted that the improvement in the Magnetic Resonance Parkinson’s Index (MRPI) for one patient, along with overall improvements in UPDRS, constipation severity score, lipid profile, and creatinine kinase for all participants, underscores the significance of these findings.
In a World Parkinson’s Day webinar, Prof. Muralidhar Hegde from Houston Methodist Research, USA, provided insights into how alpha-synuclein abnormalities contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Dr. Rukmini Mridula from Hyderabad shed light on the growing prevalence of young-onset Parkinson’s disease in India. Prof. Ezio Gagliardi from Italy presented a remarkable case of a 104-year-old patient who experienced a disappearance of tremors after consuming Nichi-BRITE Beta glucan.
Dr. Vetrievel, the event convenor, stressed the crucial role of early diagnosis and intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. He noted that Be Well hospitals are dedicated to providing initial diagnosis and follow-up care to patients with Parkinson’s disease symptoms through their network of hospitals staffed by qualified neurologists. With the promising results of this pilot study, Nichi-BRITE Beta glucans may soon become an essential component in the fight against Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies.
