The use of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates to recover healthy microbiota in infected vaginas treated with an antifungal agent

The aim of this study was to evaluate how konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) could support the healthy re-colonisation of vaginal microflora post infections. A total of 26 female patients (12 controls and 14 treatments) aged 18 to 25 suffering from vaginal infection were recruited for this study. Patients were assigned randomly into two groups to receive a standard antifungal treatment or a standard antifungal treatment plus pessary capsules containing 200 mg GMH (twice a week for thirty days). Patients were assessed on day zero, sixteen and thirty of the trial. Several parameters were determined including yeast and bacterial counts, the KOH test, pH, Gram staining and wet mount microscopic observations. The results showed that the counts of Candida were diminished completely with antifungal treatment for both groups. However, the total bacterial counts increased with time in the GMH pessary group unlike the control. The normalised average KOH scores were reduced sharply with time in both groups although in the control group scores started to increase after sixteen days. The normalised average white blood cell scores also decreased with time for both groups. Epithelial cell scores decreased only for the GMH pessary group while clue cells and yeast-like fungi decreased with time for both control and GMH pessary groups. These results indicate the improvement of vaginal health recovery (post antifungal treatment for Candida infection) and especially the presence of healthy microflora due to the introduction of GMH in the vagina. The data indicate that it would be worth examining further the health benefits of GMH in a vaginal health format with a view to employing the material as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent. It provides an alternative approach to reducing vaginal infections and promoting consumer health. </jats:p

Tolerance and nutritional therapy of dietary fibre from konjac glucomannan hydrolysates for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Carbohydrates may provide an alternative therapeutic approach for a number of digestive health disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this work was to characterise the tolerance and efficacy of low and high molecular weight konjac glucomannan hydrolysates within healthy volunteers and patients suffering from IBD and associated gut conditions. These conditions included constipation, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. For general tolerance, fourteen patients participated whilst for the digestive disorder trial, there were twenty. Scores of taste/texture of the product, bowel movement, stool consistency, diarrhoea, existence/absence of blood in the faeces, abdominal pains, flatulence, vomiting, fever, improvement of life style after use, willingness to use in the future and clinician's statements about each patient's conditions before and after use were recorded. The results showed that the hydrolysates were tolerated well for patients with diarrhoea and had a significant improvement on bowel movement, stool consistency, abdominal pain and flatulence after ten days. With respect to effects on IBD, there was a significant health benefit after fourteen days of consumption for bowel movement, stool consistency, diarrhoea, existence/absence of blood in the faeces, abdominal pain, flatulence and vomiting. Most patients declared an improvement of their life style after consuming the hydrolysates. The use of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates as a therapeutic agent or adjunct to standard treatments could prove a successful tool for the treatment of a range of disorders; although large scale studies are required to characterise further the role of the carbohydrates

The Microbiome, Probiotics, and Prebiotics

In this chapter, there will be discussion of the skin microbiome formation, composition, function, and regional topographical differences. Similarly, the gut microbiome will be reviewed, and dysbiosis at each site as well as the consequences of such dysbiosis will be entertained. Specifically, the interaction between the skin microbiome and gut microbiome will be discussed with respect to acne and rosacea. Although information to date is limited with respect to treatment options, therapeutic interventions which may work through microbial systems will be presented. Finally, ideas for future research will be put forth

Human Microbiome: Composition and Role in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

This review focuses on recent evidences about human microbiome composition and functions, exploring the potential implication of its impairment in some diffuse and invalidating inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and acne. We analysed current scientific literature, focusing on the current evidences about gut and skin microbiome composition and the complex dialogue between microbes and the host. Finally, we examined the consequences of this dialogue for health and skin diseases. This review highlights how human microbes interact with different anatomic niches modifying the state of immune activation, skin barrier status, microbe-host and microbe-microbe interactions. It also shows as most of the factors affecting gut and skin microorganisms' activity have demonstrated to be effective also in modulating chronic inflammatory skin diseases. More and more evidences demonstrate that human microbiome plays a key role in human health and diseases. It is to be expected that these new insights will translate into diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive measures in the context of personalized/precision medicine