Controlling odors by tuning microbiome

Preliminary microbiome results showed striking differences between those with active MEBO/PATM compared to those who learned to control the condition. PATM is characterized by especially low microbial diversity and instability:

In order to understand what microbial changes help to regain control of MEBO and PATM, we need to collect multiple samples from the same individuals - in their most different conditions. Those with active state, are asked to collect their first sample when they are experiencing symptoms, submit the questionnaire and follow our recommendations to minimize their symptoms. Those in remission, will start from one of their best days and wait until symptoms reoccur.

Stay tuned for further updates!

My hope: TMAU short

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

VIDEO "My hope: Tmau short"

My hope: Tmau short

by TheoMeta

W.K. Elohim Productions

March 30, 2017

One of our community members found this TMAU short film and shared it with me. For the first time ever, it was actually optimistic and full of hope.

I do believe we have come a long way, as we continue steadfastly on the path looking for answers that we hope will arrive sooner than later. There is currently more hope now because there are many "fronts" from which we are expecting new discoveries, and that is most promising, uplifting and inspiring.

Thank you TheoMeta for doing this film and for allowing me to post it in the MEBO Blog! Sharing the hope saves lives. We must keep sharing.

María

Metabolic Pathway Simulation: Apocrine Bromhidrosis compared to TMAU

Metabolic Pathway Simulation: Apocrine Bromhidrosis compared to TMAU

METABOLIC PATHWAY SIMULATIONS

APOCRINE BROMHIDROSIS

COMPARED TO TRIMETHYLAMINURIA

Danny.kunz@gmx.de

Click for presentation

Danny Kunz has donated a very interesting PowerPoint presentation for the MEBO Conference 2017 consisting of metabolic pathway simulations on Apocrine Bromhidrosis compared to Trimethylaminuria. This presentation also discusses the role of the eccrine glands in bromhidrosis.

We are most grateful to Danny, who is a part of this, "loosely coupled group of patients (and non-patients) with academic degree and without academic degree integrating our separate research capabilities and representing an addressable unit."

This theory is supported by high throughput simulations backed by large enzyme databases, which makes it a very persuasive presentation. In other words, this group has done a computer simulation of bromhidrosis backed up by large enzyme databases, as Danny explains in the presentation. Their theory is that bromhidrosis is an apocrine and eccrine sweat glands metabolic disease.  Danny also says in his presentation that thyroid function with and without elevated hormone, TSH, may plays a role in bromhidrosis, and the group recommends supplementation and diet for this.

Even though the simulations discussed in this PowerPoint presentation do not have the aspect of medical proof yet, it provides a very compelling theory that calls for further research.

TOPIC OF THE PRESENTATION:

1.      Fecal (indole) breath and body odor and it's recommended supplementation and diet, 

2.      Apocrine and eccrine sweat glands metabolic disease in bromhidrosis,

a.      Discussions on isovaleric acid and amino acid leucine in eccrine bromhidrosis,

b.      Recommends a Thyroid functions blood test, with and without elevated Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), and recommended supplementation and diet.

This very interesting presentation raises question on whether TMAU2 to TMAU1 relation pattern could be transferred to the Bromhidrosis pattern as well.

Click for larger copy

We are most grateful to Danny Kunz and his colleagues for creating this very interesting presentation for our MEBO Annual Conference and Meetup 2017!

María

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

A Public Charity
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.com
www.meboresearch.org
www.mebo.com.br/
MEBO's Blog (English)
El Blog de MEBO (español)
MEBO Brasil - Blog (Portuguese)

Post settings Labels No matching suggestions Published on 4/11/17 7:02 PM Permalink Location Options Post publishedPost: Edit

MEBO TMAU Test Program Results: BATCH #9

 

Thursday, April 24, 2014

MEBO TMAU Test Program Results: BATCH #9

Click on icon to see chart

The MEBO Research TMAU urine test program was launched in June 2012, and to date, 187 tests have been analyzed. The results of Batch #9 TMAU urine tests were received on April 23, 2014, and the 15 individuals tested received their respective results the same day as soon as MEBO received all the results on a spreadsheet from the lab.

The results of each batch seem to be different from each other. The more tests are performed, the better we get a clearer picture of averages.

If you have tested with MEBO, in order to best compare your personal results to the other results, please see the comparison chart, which presents the highest to lowest figures per category, TMA, TMAO, TMA/TMAO Ratio.

The only way to confirm the genetic form of TMAU originally positive urine test is with a DNA test. See article written by Drs. Elizabeth Shephard and Ian Phillips, "Differential Diagnosis" in NCBI, NIH pages.

1. Of the 15 samples in Batch #9
• three (3) were indicative of Primary TMAU (TMAU1)
• none (0) of Secondary TMAU (TMAU2)
2. Of the 15 samples in Batch #8
• three (3) was indicative of TMAU1
• four (4) of Secondary TMAU (TMAU2)
3. Of the 16 samples in Batch #7
• one (1) was indicative of Primary TMAU
• five (5) was indicative of TMAU2

For more information on previous Batches and test results, please see all the posts with keyword, TMAU Test Results.

How to test for TMAU through MEBO :

HOW TO ARRANGE FOR MY TMAU TEST
Click here
TMAU Test Requisition Form

No additional cost throughout the test process will be incurred
after initial payment of test & round trip shipping

María

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

A Public Charity
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org
www.meboresearch.org
www.mebo.com.br/ (em português)
MEBO's Blog (English)
El Blog de MEBO (español)

What's that fatty odor?

Body odor is closely associated with diet. Deciphering the chemistry of human odor is not an easy task - only about 5% of odorous molecules are usually recovered from collection containers, and not all of the molecules are identified in complex spectra. Volatile fatty acids, alcohols, and aromatic ring compounds comprise a substantial fraction of smelly molecules, yet very little is known about the origin and factors controlling their production in humans. Fortunately for some (and not so fortunately for others), the human nose can capture and discriminate many smell signatures. Could this discrimination be used to connect the dots between diet and body odor? MEBO Research has just started an anonymous study using the Aurametrix health analysis tool to find out.

Aurametrix's knowledge base provides a wide selection of foods and symptoms, including different types of odors recognizable by the human nose. Participants in the study have been recording some of their food intake and activities on days when their symptoms are better or worse than average, entering items they suspect might be contributing to or alleviating their body odor on those days. The tool's analysis engine then lets them explore all the possible cause-effect relationships. In addition, Aurametrix performs automated analyses across the entire user community and displays cumulative results as "aggregate correlations." The figure on the right is an excerpt from these results.

Although the study has only just begun, the preliminary results already look very interesting. One example is fatty odor. Aurametrix linked several dietary chemicals to unpleasant "fatty odor" emanating from skin based on Aura entries of several participants. The top chemicals so far are:  Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), Octadecanoic acid, FODMAPs, Beta-carotene,  Carbohydrates and Monosaccharides. Another interesting result (although there were fewer observations) is that Vitamin B12 obtained from diet seemed to help prevent fatty body odor.

• Could Vitamin K1 really contribute to "fatty" odor?  Could 6 observations derived from different users' Auras be just a coincidence? Vitamin K is proposed to increase production of alkaline phosphatase in intestines. This enzyme produces a number of different substances, some of which have a peculiar sweetish smell.  Chlorophyll, usually recommended to combat body odor and supposedly makes odor "sweeter," is an excellent source of vitamin K1. And so is Asparagus that gives urine a disagreeable odor.
• Octadecanoic (Stearic) acid was also linked to fatty odor in 6 observations. This saturated fatty acid is most abundant in animal fats and cocoa butter, and also in nuts and seeds (peanuts, flax), cheese, cookies and candies. Its smell is fairly mild, yet can be detected by the human nose (Bolton and Halpern, 2010). Besides, it slowly converts in the liver to heart-healthy oleic acid which has a faintly fatty odor with a hint of dead insects. It could also metabolize into other compounds and incorporate into liver lipids or follow alternative routes.
• FODMAPs, highly fermentable but poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates and polyols, were found to be an important dietary factor contributing to gastrointestinal symptoms. Perhaps FODMAPs, carbohydrates and monosacharides in particular could also contribute to odor in the absence of GI discomfort?
• Beta-carotene is another heart-healthy chemical with anticancerous properties important in human nutrition as a source of Vitamin A. Tobacco, tea, many spices and flowers owe their flavors to chemicals metabolized from beta-carotene. One of such chemicals is warm and woody beta-Ionone that smells of blackberry at lower concentrations and fatty-cheesy at higher concentrations.

The chemistry of odors and their origins is undoubtedly very complex. Yet, these preliminary results show that together we may find the answers to many health-related questions. With more participants, we'll soon connect the dots between diet and body odor. Want to participate? Write to:

References

Bolton B, & Halpern BP (2010). Orthonasal and retronasal but not oral-cavity-only discrimination of vapor-phase fatty acids. Chemical senses, 35 (3), 229-38 PMID: 20100787

Dunkel M, Schmidt U, Struck S, Berger L, Gruening B, Hossbach J, Jaeger IS, Effmert U, Piechulla B, Eriksson R, Knudsen J, & Preissner R (2009). SuperScent--a database of flavors and scents. Nucleic acids research, 37 (Database issue) PMID: 18931377

MEBO Research Blog

From https://www.meboblog.com/2008/05/intro-letter_03.html

This is an effort to bring MEBOBLOG.com back to life. After the site went offline, its posts - once a vital record of shared experiences, research, and community - risked being lost.

We are now preserving the archive one entry at a time, saving and, when necessary, lightly updating posts to ensure they remain accessible and readable for today’s audience.

This work begins with the very first letter written by founder Maria de la Torre on April 10, 2008, a piece that set the tone for the community and its mission. What follows is both a restoration and a continuation: a way to honor the origins of MEBOBLOG while keeping its knowledge and voices available for the future.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Intro letter

MEBO RESEARCH FOUNDER
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As a 54 year-old married mom with two sons living in Miami, Florida, I have personally struggled with severe body odor in my family throughout my life, and especially these past eight years, the odor has been impossible to control. The most exasperating aspect of the struggle to control and cure this condition was not finding answers from numerous well-intentioned medical doctors, including gastroenterologist, dermatologist, allergy and asthma specialist, and othorhinolaryngologist. As a result, I had no other recourse but to turn to the web to find guidance and answers.

After having read numerous research articles online from around the world, heart-wrenching posts by body odor sufferers in many Body Odor/TMAU forums, and after watching various news and talk shows regarding this matter, it seems to me that most cases don’t fit the traditional idea of body odor as being an external skin problem. By that I mean that it is bloodborne and systemic, to be released through the pores and any way it can through all the body cleansing organs - lungs, kidneys, skin, and glands. I am also amazed at the number of sufferers posting on the online boards. It seems as if it is far from a rare problem, although it seems to vary in degree of intensity.

I began to see a pattern emerging in numerous parts of the world suggesting that body odor is a medical condition that usually arises from more than one cause in each individual sufferer, such as metabolic and/or gut bacterial imbalance, triggered by physical and emotional stress and hormonal changes, and possibly other causes yet to be discovered, many of which are genetic in nature. These multiple causes in one individual sufferer may vary from another sufferer, thus making it extremely difficult if not impossible for sufferers to find a lasting solution to their respective body odor condition without additional research and professional guidance.

The function of this blog is multifaceted as it serves as a channel between experts and sufferers to promote awareness and funding for research, and to achieve a good solution to enable sufferers to help themselves. First and foremost, I would like all sufferers who visit and participate in this blog to be assured that I commit to doing everything in my power to protect your privacy and confidentiality throughout this process. And experts, this blog will serve as a tool for you to tap into an international pool of sufferers who are very eager to assist you in finding a good understanding of the various causes of body odor and a solution to our problem; so please feel free to get in touch with me at any time, maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org, and I will do everything possible to assist you regarding this matter.

SUFFERERS UNITED

Through this blog sufferers of various body odor forums, as well as other sufferers, can come together in larger numbers to provide the scientific community with data for research, surveys and questionnaires. In turn, sufferers can find in this blog, online articles of scientific and medical information related to body odor and its management. In this manner, I hope that sufferers and experts unite and arrive at a better understanding of the various causes of body odor, develop an effective course of treatment for each condition, and most importantly, find a cure.

It is my sincere wish that the outcome of this effort will result in a future commonplace practice of a sufferer going to his or her family doctor anywhere in the world presenting with body odor as his or her primary complaint, that the physician would immediately know what metabolic and/or microbial diagnostic exams are indicated in order to arrive at a speedy diagnosis and treatment plan to control and eliminate body odor. It saddens me that people can be suffering so much misery, with the medical world seemingly unaware except for perhaps a handful of experts who know about trimethylaminuria. It is also my aim that all private and group health insurance plans as well as national medical plans routinely cover the diagnosis and treatment expense of these conditions as it would any other medical condition so that bloodborne body odor sufferers can afford to seek proper medical treatment.

I therefore invite all members of all body odor forums and websites, and all who suffer from body odor, family and friends, and the scientific, medical, and healthcare community throughout the world to unite and to participate in this endeavor to find real answers. Sufferers may do so by providing as much accurate data as possible to whatever questionnaire or survey researchers post in this blog to assist with their research, while feeling confident that their privacy will be protected. Researcher should feel welcomed with open arms to carry out their research projects in this endeavor tapping into a strong pool of available subjects in a joint effort to find a cure for body odor. In this data and information exchange effort, we can unite at an international level to achieve all these goals so that we can provide a happy and productive life for ourselves, our children, and future generations.

María

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

A Public Charity
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.com
www.meboresearch.org
www.mebo.com.br/
MEBO's Blog (English)
El Blog de MEBO (español)
MEBO Brasil - Blog (Portuguese)