Tag Archive for: hydrogen sulfide

Is Flatulence Good for You?

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In another off-beat recent study, researchers examined if hydrogen sulfide (H2S) could increase the longevity and vitality of C. elegans worms. (Personally, I don’t see what’s elegant about this nematode, but scientists seem to love it; it was the first multicellular organism to have its whole genome sequenced and has been the subject of four Nobel prize winners.)

Two questions right off the bat. Are we talking about the hydrogen sulfide produced by probiotics in flatulence that can clear a room because of the smell? Yes. And worms are living healthier lives while living longer? Yes, but who cares? Allow me to continue.

There are similarities between some functions found in worms and in humans. Because their lifespan is much shorter, scientists can find out whether what they think will work as a treatment in theory will actually work in the worms. They exposed specific regions of the worms to hydrogen sulfide. The objective, based on prior research, was to examine whether the hydrogen sulfide would impact the mitochondria in those regions. Turns out the hydrogen sulfide did exactly that; while the worms lived a little longer, they were more vigorous up to the time they died.  The researchers are proceeding with research to see if this could be duplicated in humans.

The issue would be how to deliver the hydrogen sulfide to the correct place, and that appears to be the mitochondria. It may not prove to be practical, but I can think of a way to increase hydrogen sulfide in the body naturally: Eat foods with sulforaphanes and other sulfur-containing chemicals, such as broccoli and cauliflower in one group and onions and garlic in the other. I think that’s the easiest way to increase sulfides. The health benefits are significant and worth the discrete elimination of any gas that may be produced.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: PNAS. 2023. 120(32):  e22161411202.

Why You Need Taurine

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Two years ago, I wrote about an episode of food poisoning that Paula and I both had. It was gut wrenching, literally, but it may have been a good thing. How is that possible? Believe it or not, it might have been a training session for our microbiomes.

Scientists have been examining ways to reduce our dependence on antibiotics, and that includes studying the way the microbiome responds to bacterial infections. They have exposed rodents to specific bacterial pathogens and then studied how the animal’s gut responds. When they later expose the animals to the same or similar pathogenic bacteria, the response is significantly reduced. How?

The second exposure caused an increase in the probiotics that release hydrogen sulfide; this chemical interferes with the pathogenic bacteria’s ability to produce energy, thus reducing the negative effects of the invader. The microbiome “remembered” the invader and responded with the correct defense. They further explored how taurine supplementation would impact the response; because taurine contains a sulfonyl group, it supports the production of hydrogen sulfide. They found taurine was effective to increase production and reduce the impact of the pathogens.

Taurine is found only in animal sources; seafood leads the list. However, the body can make taurine from cysteine; that may help as long as a person, carnivore or vegan, gets all the amino acids. Taurine is also found in energy drinks and assorted sports products. We’re not at the point where a specific quantity of taurine can be recommended for suspected food poisoning, but it’s good to know that our microbiome may be trained against some food-poisoning pathogens.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References: Call. 2021. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.12.011