Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease in which demyelination due to auto inflammation is considered to be the underlying pathogenesis, though the exact etiology is not known. Most of the management strategies involve medications that are anti inflammatory or immune suppressive, which do have associated side effects. In this study we have evaluated in MS patients, the clinical effects of a novel B glucan which has a track record of anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating potentials in earlier clinical and pre clinical studies. Methods The study involved 12 MS patients who consumed two sachets of N-163 strain of Aureobasidium pullulans produced B Glucan, daily for 60 days along with routine medication. Results: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) decreased by 0.5 in three patients and by 1 in one patient post intervention, while stable in the rest. Decrease in IL 6, improvement in CD4+ve, CD19+ve, CD3+ve, and CD8+ ve cell count, increase in Lymphocyte to C reactive protein ratio (LCR), Leukocyte to CRP ratio (LeCR) and a decrease in Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were observed. Conclusion: This study having proven the safety of N 163 strain of A.pullulans produced B Glucan food supplement and the efficacy by improvement in the EDSS score, besides beneficial modulation of inflammation and immune parameters of relevance in MS patients in a short duration of 60 days, has significant potential as a disease modifying adjuvant in MS. Immunological parameters like NLR, LCR, LeCR correlating with clinical improvement, in line with earlier reports using the same beta-glucans, gain further significance for their potentials as biomarkers in MS.
The aetiology of Parkinson s disease PD has been linked to the aggregation and spread of misfolded alpha synuclein via the gut-brain axis. We previously reported the effects of a biological response modifier, beta glucan, produced by the AFO 202 strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans, which improves clinical symptoms and controls gut Enterobacteriaceae associated with curli and amyloid alpha synuclein production. In this study, we report the effects of beta-glucan on PD. Eight patients with PD were recruited, five of whom completed the study. Each participant was administered 3 g of AFO-202 B glucan orally daily for 90 days in addition to their regular prescription drugs. Pre and post study comparison revealed that the mean UPDRS decreased from 43.25 at baseline to 40 post intervention. Improvements in cognition, walking and balance, postural stability, and constipation scales were observed. The mean constipation severity score decreased from 3 to 1.75 post intervention. The serum creatinine kinase levels decreased and the blood glucose and lipid levels normalised. The MRI Parkinson s index MRPI improved in one patient. This safe AFO 202 B glucan produced beneficial diseasemodifying improvements in the UPDRS and MRI that were clinically significant in the short timeframe of 90 days. Further validation in larger, longer-term clinical trials will help confirm the use of beta glucan as a potential adjuvant treatment for PD which may pave way for future evaluations of these beta glucans in other synculeinopathies as well Lewy body related pathogenesis.
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