Communication in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and role of immunomodulatory nutraceuticals in their management

Abstract

Conveyance of pathogens between organisms causes communicable diseases. On the other hand, a non-communicable disease (NCD) was always thought to have no causative transmissible infective agents. Today, this clear distinction is increasingly getting blurred and NCDs are found to be associated with some transmissible components. The human microbiota carries a congregation of microbes, the majority and the most widely studied being bacteria in the gut. The adult human gut harbors ginormous inhabitant microbes, and the microbiome accommodates 150-fold more genes than the host genome. Microbial communities share a mutually beneficial relationship with the host, especially with respect to host physiology including digestion, immune responses, and metabolism. This review delineates the connection between environmental factors such as infections leading to gut dysbiosis and NCDs and explores the evidence regarding possible causal link between them. We also discuss the evidence regarding the value of appropriate therapeutic immunomodulatory nutritional interventions to reduce the development of such diseases. We behold such immunomodulatory effects have the potential to influence in various NCDs and restore homeostasis. We believe that the beginning of the era of microbiota-oriented personalized treatment modalities is not far away.

The Ocean’s Pharmacy: Health Discoveries in Marine Algae

“…However, a common hallmark of both conditions is dysbiosis in the gut microbiota [138]. In fact, alterations in the gut microbial ecology have been linked to several NCDs (e.g., colorectal cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, liver disorders, and osteoporosis), being postulated as the communicable element [139].…”

“…Liver disorders, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often coexist with IBD as comorbid conditions, likely due to the connection between the gut and the liver known as the "gut-liver axis" [138,139]. NAFLD is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide and covers a wide spectrum of liver diseases ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, and, ultimately, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.…”

“…As discussed previously, dysbiosis in the gut microbiota can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, the buildup of toxic metabolites, the impaired breakdown of SCFAs, and aberrant immune responses. All these factors contribute to the development of diabetes and metabolic syndrome risk factors such as insulin resistance [16,139].…”

“…Certain cytokines can additionally induce apoptosis in beta-cells by activating the MAPK and NF-κB pathways [159]. Gut dysbiosis also seems to play a role in causing diabetes and insulin resistance [139]. Insulin resistance causes microvascular damage, mainly in the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, which can lead to hypertension, renal impairment, ischemic heart disease, metabolic cardiac inflammation, and diabetic retinopathy, among many others [160].…”

Tackling transmission of infectious diseases: A probiotic‐based system as a remedy for the spread of pathogenic and resistant microbes

“…The use of probiotics has been thus proposed to rebalance the BE microbiome, based on their safety features (EFSA, 2010 ) and safe use to prevent or ameliorate a wide range of human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), antibiotic‐resistant skin infections, gastrointestinal diseases, urogenital infections, gingivitis and allergic disorders (Alkaya et al., 2017 ; Amara & Shibl, 2015 ; Blaabjerg et al., 2017 ; Bodke & Jogdand, 2022 ; Butel, 2014 ; Kerry et al., 2018 ; Kim et al., 2019 ; Kumar et al., 2022 ; Nithya et al., 2023 ; Roudsari et al., 2015 ; Shu et al., 2013 ; Sullivan & Nord, 2002 ; Wilkins & Sequoia, 2017 ; Yan & Polk, 2011 ).…”