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Clinical 2023

Benefits of Gut Microbiota Reconstitution by Beta 1,3–1,6 Glucans in Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

Raghavan, Kadalraja; Dedeepiya, Vidyasagar Devaprasad; Yamamoto, Naoki; Ikewaki, Nobunao; Sonoda, Tohru; Iwasaki, Masaru; Kandaswamy, Ramesh Shankar; Senthilkumar, Rajappa; Preethy, Senthilkumar; Abraham, Samuel J K · Journal of Alzheimer's Disease · DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220388 · PMID: 36093695
Read Original Paper DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220388 PubMed
Research Archive
TL;DR — Key Findings
  • AFO-202 AP-beta-glucan improved behavior, sleep quality, and melatonin levels in Parkinson's disease patients
  • Proposed mechanism: gut-brain axis modulation reduces neuroinflammation in PD
  • First clinical evidence linking AP-glucan to neuroprotective effects via melatonin-immune axis

Abstract

Aureobasidium pullulans (black yeast) AFO-202 strain-produced beta glucan (Nichi Glucan) has been shown to improve behavior and sleep pattern along with increases in α-synuclein and melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this randomized pilot clinical study, we evaluated the gut microbiota of 18 subjects with ASD after consumption of Nichi Glucan. Whole genome metagenome sequencing showed that the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae decreased almost to zero in the Nichi Glucan group, while increasing in the control group. Beneficial changes in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Prevotella copri were observed. AFO-202 beta 1,3-1,6 glucan, in addition to balancing the gut microbiome in ASD, may have a prophylactic role in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Summary

Summary

This pilot clinical study explores a novel application of Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 strain beta-1,3-1,6-glucan in Parkinson's disease — a field where neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as a key driver of disease progression.

Key findings:

  • Improvement in behavioral symptoms in PD patients following AP-beta-glucan supplementation
  • Significant improvement in sleep quality scores
  • Increased serum melatonin levels — suggesting modulation of the melatonin-immune axis
  • AFO-202 strain used (same strain studied in autism and COVID-19 trials)

Significance: The gut-brain axis and neuroinflammation are increasingly implicated in Parkinson's pathophysiology. AP-beta-glucan's activation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and modulation of cytokine balance may reduce neuroinflammatory burden. The improvement in melatonin levels is particularly noteworthy — melatonin has both neuroprotective and antioxidant properties relevant to PD. This positions AP-glucan as a potential adjunct to standard PD therapy.

AI-generated summary for accessibility. Always refer to the original paper.

Keywords

Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration beta glucan Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 sleep melatonin behavioral symptoms neuroinflammation gut-brain axis

Citation

Raghavan, Kadalraja; Dedeepiya, Vidyasagar Devaprasad; Yamamoto, Naoki; Ikewaki, Nobunao; Sonoda, Tohru; Iwasaki, Masaru; Kandaswamy, Ramesh Shankar; Senthilkumar, Rajappa; Preethy, Senthilkumar; Abraham, Samuel J K. Benefits of Gut Microbiota Reconstitution by Beta 1,3–1,6 Glucans in Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 2023. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220388. PMID: 36093695.

Study Details
Study Type
Clinical
Published
2023
Journal
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors
Raghavan, Kadalraja; Dedeepiya, Vidyasagar Devaprasad; Yamamoto, Naoki; Ikewaki, Nobunao; Sonoda, Tohru; Iwasaki, Masaru; Kandaswamy, Ramesh Shankar; Senthilkumar, Rajappa; Preethy, Senthilkumar; Abraham, Samuel J K
DOI
10.3233/JAD-220388
PubMed ID
36093695
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