Japanese Nichi-BRITE Beta Glucans Show Promising Results for Parkinson’s Disease Patients in a Preliminary Study

A pilot clinical study conducted at Be Well Hospital in Chennai revealed significant improvements in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and constipation scores following 90 days of oral consumption of the AFO-202 strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans-derived Beta-1,3-1,6 Glucan food supplement, Nichi BRITE. The findings were initially presented at the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) 2023 annual meeting and discussed in a World Parkinson’s Day webinar.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting nearly one million individuals in the United States and a similar number in India. The condition is often associated with gut dysbiosis, which leads to an increase in harmful Enterobacteriaceae that produce curli and amyloid proteins. These proteins contribute to the misfolding of alpha-synuclein, which aggregates in the gut and travels to the brain through the gut-brain-axis, ultimately resulting in the formation of Lewy bodies and damage to dopamine-secreting cells.

The AFO-202 strain of Aureobasidium pullulans-derived Nichi-BRITE Beta glucans has been shown to control harmful gut bacteria while promoting the growth of beneficial microbiota. According to Dr. Dedeepiya, a co-author of the study, the oral supplement has demonstrated safety and efficacy in this preliminary trial, making it a promising candidate for larger investigations. The researchers believe that combining gut microbiome evaluation and brain volumetric analysis in MRI could reveal Nichi BRITE’s potential as an adjunct therapy for synucleinopathies like Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy.

Dr. Nithyanandam, a neurologist involved in the study, noted that improvements in the Magnetic Resonance Parkinson’s Index (MRPI) in one patient were encouraging, along with overall UPDRS, constipation severity score, lipid profile, and creatinine kinase improvements observed in all participants. He emphasized the importance of exploring Nichi BRITE’s potential as a drug adjuvant in synucleinopathies through larger studies.

During the webinar, renowned researcher Prof. Muralidhar Hegde from Houston Methodist Research, USA, discussed the role of alpha-synuclein abnormalities in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Dr. Rukmini Mridula from Hyderabad highlighted the increasing prevalence of young-onset Parkinson’s disease in India. In a notable case, Prof. Ezio Gagliardi from Italy reported the disappearance of tremors in a 104-year-old patient following Nichi BRITE beta glucan consumption.

Dr. Vetrievel, the event convenor, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for neurodegenerative diseases, and that Be Well hospitals offer initial diagnosis and follow-up care through their network of hospitals, with qualified neurologists treating patients presenting with Parkinson’s disease symptoms.