Supplement Nichi Glucan appears safe and may be worth a PD trial - I would welcome any feedback on the linked documents.

[jeffreyn]

A trial was done involving children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the research paper makes a fairly good case (IMHO) for running a similar trial with PD patients.

Beneficial reconstitution of gut microbiota and control of alpha-synuclein and curli-amyloids-producing enterobacteria, by beta 1,3-1,6 glucans in a clinical pilot study of autism and potentials in neurodegenerative diseases:

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

This article provides an overview of the ASD trial.

Beta-glucan supplement improves behavioural symptoms and sleep in children with autism – Pilot study:

nutraingredients-asia.com/A...

This paper provides background information on Beta Glucan.

Beta Glucan: Supplement or Drug? From Laboratory to Clinical Trials:

mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/7/1251

[Bolt_Upright]

Very interesting Jeffrey. A bit concerning that this product seems to boost a-synuclean, but maybe not a bad thing. nutraingredients-asia.com/A...

[jeffreyn in reply to Bolt_Upright]

From the research paper:

"... the increase in plasma αSyn levels point [out] to the disintegration of the amyloid deposits leading to these αSyn entering the blood stream."

So yes, the increase in PLASMA alpha-syn levels is considered to be a good thing.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to jeffreyn]

Thanks Jeff! I have already added 2 TSP brewer's yeast twice a day to my protocol (based on your post). I may splurge for some beta glucan extract (not as cheap as I would like).

[jeffreyn in reply to Bolt_Upright]

When I said "may be worth a PD trial", your immediate N = 1 trial with brewer's yeast is not exactly what I had in mind.

You're a fast mover, Bolt. I've yet to finish reading the third link.

[Bolt_Upright]

There are also a number of foods high in beta glucan including:

barley fiber.

oats and whole grains.

reishi, maitake and shiitake mushrooms.

seaweed.

algae.

[Bolt_Upright]

immunostimulant. hmm.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Seems more immunomodulating than stimulating. I could not find anything contraindicating autoimmune diseases. Found this, that brings Ashwagandha back to the table too: Combination Therapy with Glucan and Coenzyme Q10 in Murine Experimental Autoimmune Disease and Cancer 2018 ar.iiarjournals.org/content...

[Bolt_Upright]

Methods Six subjects with ASD (n = 6) Gr. 1 underwent conventional treatment comprising remedial behavioural therapies and L-carnosine 500 mg per day, and 12 subjects (n = 12) Gr. 2 underwent supplementation with the Nichi Glucan 0.5 g twice daily along with the conventional treatment.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Bolt_Upright]

So... Nichi Glucan is a beta glucan, but it is not from brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae )

biospace.com/article/releas...

Nichi Glucan and Nichi Glucan REFIX Beta 1,3-1,6 glucans, produced by AFO-202 and N-163 strains of Black Yeast Aureobasidium Pullulans are unique from other Beta glucans, being produced as an exo-polysaccharide with higher purity and unique structure, which are considered as reasons for their multiple benefits to human health, including the one reported in this clinical study in Covid-19 patients.

But! The rat study I found used brewers yeast derived beta glucan.

[Bolt_Upright]

THE EFFECT OF BETA GLUCAN OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISAE ON THE DECREASE OF ALPHA SYNUCLEIN EXPRESSION IN THE BRAIN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA OF PARKINSON’S WISTAR STRAIN RATS (Rattus novergicus) MODEL INDUCED WITH ROTENONE 2016 mnj.ub.ac.id/index.php/mnj/...

Background. One of the regenerative therapy modalities in Parkinson is using the beta glucan effect contained in Saccharomyces cerevisae.

Objective. To identify the effect of reduction in alpha synuclein expression on the brain substantia nigra in Parkinson's rat model after given Saccharomyces cerevisae.

Methods. This research applied true experimental design by in vivo with draft randomized post test only controlled group design. The sample was divided into five groups, each of them consisted of 5 rats. Variables measured were the decreasing level of alpha synuclein.

Results. There was a significant difference between positive control and negative control group.

Conclusion. The addition of Saccharomyces cerevisae is able to lower the alpha synuclein expression in Parkinson’s Wistar strain rat models significantly with maximum at the dose of 72 mg/kgBB.

Saccharomyces cerevisae = Brewer's Yeast

[Discogs_discogs in reply to Bolt_Upright]

However, the article originally linked above (re-posted below) says that the, "plasma levels of a-synuclein were significantly higher in the [beta-glucan group] .... than in the control group..." Does that contradict the other article which you just posted? Aren't high blood-plasma levels of a-syn supposed to be a bad thing? Sorry, I'm a novice....

nutraingredients-asia.com/A...

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Discogs_discogs]

I asked the same question above and jeffreyn replied:

23 hours ago

From the research paper:

"... the increase in plasma αSyn levels point [out] to the disintegration of the amyloid deposits leading to these αSyn entering the blood stream."

So yes, the increase in PLASMA alpha-syn levels is considered to be a good thing.

[Bolt_Upright]

chartist Similar to fiber supplements, inulin-rich vegetables, but also fungal β-glucans, stimulated butyrate production most of all vegetable fibers.

Parkinson’s disease patients’ short chain fatty acids production capacity after in vitro fecal fiber fermentation 2021 nature.com/articles/s41531-...

It always circles back to SCFAs!

[JCRO in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Plenty of SCFAs in quinoa I think.

[Boscoejean]

scienceofparkinsons.com/201....

[jeffreyn in reply to Boscoejean]

From your link (A Yeast Model of Parkinson's Disease):

"The small single cell organism that most of us associate with baking and beer, shares enough genetics with us that we can use it as an assay for investigating molecular pathways involved with diseases of the brain."