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dietary supplementation of aged mice with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri makes them appear to be younger than their matched untreated sibling mice

These results indicate that gut microbiota induce modulation of local gastrointestinal immunity resulting in systemic effects on the immune system which activate metabolic pathways that restore tissue homeostasis and overall health

all these studies we consistently observed that young and aged mice consuming purified L. reuteri organisms had particularly large testes and a dominant male behavior.

The testes of probiotic-fed aged mice were rescued from both seminiferous tubule atrophy and interstitial Leydig cell area reduction typical of the normal aging process. Preservation of testicular architecture despite advanced age or high-fat diet coincided with remarkably high levels of circulating testosterone. The beneficial effects of probiotic consumption were recapitulated by the depletion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-17.

feeding of L. reuteri consistently increased the gonadal weights, consumption of a non-pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 organisms did not affect testicular weight

mice with dietary L. reuteri supplements were rescued from diet-induced obesity and had normal body weight and lean physique

Despite the comparable numbers of ST profiles, we determined that testes from L. reuteri-treated mice had increased ST cross-sectioned profiles

the probiotic organism induced prominent Leydig cell accumulations in the interstitial tissue between the ST's

The probiotic-associated increase of interstitial Leydig cell areas was sustained with advancing age at 7 (CD vs CD+LR, P = 0.0025; CD+E.coli vs CD+LR, P = 0.0251) and 12 months

mice eating L. reuteri had profoundly increased levels of circulating testosterone regardless of the type of diet they consumed

blocking pro-inflammatory Il-17 signaling entirely recapitulates the beneficial effects of probiotics

previous studies we found that dietary probiotics counteract obesity [19] and age-related integumentary pathology [18] at least in part by down-regulating systemic pro-inflammatory IL-17A-dependent signaling

Testes histomorphometry and serum androgen concentration data were both suggestive of a probiotic-associated up-regulation of spermatogenesis in mice

Lactobacillus reuteri we discovered that aging male animals had larger testes compared to their age-matched controls

xamined testes of probiotic microbe-fed mice and found that they had less testicular atrophy coinciding with higher levels of circulating testosterone compared to their age-matched controls

Similar testicular health benefits were produced using systemic depletion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-17 alone, implicating a chronic inflammatory pathway in hypogonadism

One specific aspect of this paradigm is reciprocal activities of pro-inflammatory Th-17 and anti-inflammatory Treg cells

Feeding of L. reuteri organisms was previously shown to up-regulate IL-10 levels and reduce levels of IL-17 [19] serving to lower systemic inflammation

insufficient levels of IL-10 may increase the risk for autoimmunity, obesity, and other inflammatory disease syndromes

Westernized diets are also low in vitamin D, a nutrient that when present normally works together with IL-10 to protect against inflammatory disorders

Physiological feedback loops apparently exist between microbes, host hormones, and immunity

The hormone testosterone has been shown to act directly through androgen receptors on CD4+ cells to increase IL-10 expression

studies in both humans and rodents suggest that hypogonadism is due to age-related lesions in testes rather than irregular LH metabolism

We postulate that probiotic gut microbes function symbiotically with their mammalian hosts to impart immune homeostasis to maintain systemic and testicular health [34]–[35] despite suboptimal dietary conditions.

Dietary factors and diet-induced obesity were previously shown to increase risk for age-associated male hypogonadism, reduced spermatogenesis, and low testosterone production in both humans and mice [2]–[4], [8]–[11], [14]–[17], phenotypic features that in this study were inhibited by oral probiotic therapy absent milk sugars, extra protein, or vitamin D supplied in yogurt.

Similar beneficial effects of probiotic microbes on testosterone levels and sperm indices were reported in male mice that had been simultaneously supplemented with selenium

L. reuteri-associated prevention of age- and diet-related testicular atrophy correlates with increased numbers and size of Leydig cells

the initial changes of testicular atrophy begin to occur in mice from the age of 6 moths onwards [7] and indicates that the trophic effect of L. reuteri on Leydig cells is a key event which precedes and prevents age-related changes in the testes of mice. This effect is reminiscent of earlier studies describing Leydig cell hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in the mouse and the rat testis that were achievable by the administration of gonadotropins, including human chorionic gonadotropin, FSH and LH

The hydroperoxyl radical () plays an important role in the chemistry of lipid peroxidation

The is a much stronger oxidant than superoxide anion-radical

Lipid peroxidation can be described generally as a process under which oxidants such as free radicals or nonradical species attack lipids containing carbon-carbon double bond(s), especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that involve hydrogen abstraction from a carbon, with oxygen insertion resulting in lipid peroxyl radicals and hydroperoxides as described previously

under medium or high lipid peroxidation rates (toxic conditions) the extent of oxidative damage overwhelms repair capacity, and the cells induce apoptosis or necrosis programmed cell death

The overall process of lipid peroxidation consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination

Once lipid peroxidation is initiated, a propagation of chain reactions will take place until termination products are produced.

The main primary products of lipid peroxidation are lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH)

Among the many different aldehydes which can be formed as secondary products during lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), propanal, hexanal, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) have been extensively studied

MDA has been widely used for many years as a convenient biomarker for lipid peroxidation of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids because of its facile reaction with thiobarbituric acid (TBA)

MDA is one of the most popular and reliable markers that determine oxidative stress in clinical situations [53], and due to MDA’s high reactivity and toxicity underlying the fact that this molecule is very relevant to biomedical research community

4-HNE is considered as “second toxic messengers of free radicals,” and also as “one of the most physiologically active lipid peroxides,” “one of major generators of oxidative stress,” “a chemotactic aldehydic end-product of lipid peroxidation,” and a “major lipid peroxidation product”

MDA is an end-product generated by decomposition of arachidonic acid and larger PUFAs

Identifying in vivo MDA production and its role in biology is important as indicated by the extensive literature on the compound (over 15 800 articles in the PubMed database using the keyword “malondialdehyde lipid peroxidation” in December 2013)

MDA reactivity is pH-dependent

When pH decreases MDA exists as beta-hydroxyacrolein and its reactivity increases

MAA adducts are shown to be highly immunogenic [177–181]. MDA adducts are biologically important because they can participate in secondary deleterious reactions (e.g., crosslinking) by promoting intramolecular or intermolecular protein/DNA crosslinking that may induce profound alteration in the biochemical properties of biomolecules and accumulate during aging and in chronic diseases

MDA is an important contributor to DNA damage and mutation

This MDA-induced DNA alteration may contribute significantly to cancer and other genetic diseases.

Dietary intake of certain antioxidants such as vitamins was associated with reduced levels of markers of DNA oxidation (M1dG and 8-oxodG) measured in peripheral white blood cells of healthy subjects, which could contribute to the protective role of vitamins on cancer risk

4-HNE is an extraordinarily reactive compound

these findings suggest that changing glutathione redox balance, increase in GSH level, and the GSH/GSSG ratio by γ-GCE, ameliorate bronchial asthma by altering the Th1/Th2 imbalance through IL-12 production from APC and suppressing chemokine production and eosinophil migration itself.

Bronchial asthma is a typical helper T cell type 2 (Th2) disease

Through the release of Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, orchestrate the recruitment and activation of the primary effector cells of the allergic response: the mast cells and the eosinophils

Glutathione is the most abundant nonprotein sulfhydryl compound in almost all cells. This tripeptide plays a significant role in many biological processes. It also constitutes the first line of the cellular defense mechanism against oxidative injury along with SOD, ascorbate, vitamin E, and catalase, and is the major intracellular redox buffer in ubiquitous cell types

We have shown that glutathione redox status, namely the balance between intracellular reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, in murine antigen-presenting cells (APC) plays a central role in determining which of the reductive and oxidative APC predominate during immune status, and the balance between reductive and oxidative APC regulates Th1/Th2 balance through production of IL-12

we have also shown that exposure of human alveolar macrophages to the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ or the Th2 cytokine IL-4 either increases or decreases the GSH/GSSG ratio, respectively, which regulates Th1/Th2 balance through IL-12 production

the ability to generate a Th1 or Th2 type response has turned out to depend not only on T cells but also on the intracellular glutathione redox status of APC

Th1 cytokine IFN-γ and Th2 cytokine IL-4 increases and decreases the GSH/GSSG ratio, respectively, and that this ratio influences LPS-induced IL-12 production from alveolar macrophages

the ability to generate a Th1 or Th2 response is dependent on glutathione redox status of APC

administration of γ-GCE elevates GSH level and GSH/GSSG ratio in the lung, and ameliorates AHR and eosinophilic airway inflammation by altering the Th1/Th2 balance and suppressing chemokine production and eosinophil migration in a mouse asthma model

Gut bacteria in the cecum and large intestine produce SCFAs mainly from nondigestible carbohydrates that pass the small intestine unaffected

plant cell-wall polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and resistant starches

inulin shifted the relative production of SCFAs from acetate to propionate and butyrate

age of approximately 3–4 years, when it becomes mature

SCFAs affect lipid, glucose, and cholesterol metabolism

colonocytes, the first host cells that take up SCFAs and which depend largely on butyrate for their energy supply

the microbiota educate the immune system and increase the tolerance to microbial immunodeterminants

the microbiota act as a metabolic organ that can break down otherwise indigestible food components, degrade potentially toxic food compounds like oxalate, and synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids

a large part of the SCFAs is used as a source of energy

The general idea is that colonocytes prefer butyrate to acetate and propionate, and oxidize it to ketone bodies and CO2

Exogenous acetate formed by colonic bacterial fermentation enters the blood compartment and is mixed with endogenous acetate released by tissues and organs (103, 104). Up to 70% of the acetate is taken up by the liver (105), where it is not only used as an energy source, but is also used as a substrate for the synthesis of cholesterol and long-chain fatty acids and as a cosubstrate for glutamine and glutamate synthesis

SCFAs regulate the balance between fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, and lipolysis in the body.

Fatty acid oxidation is activated by SCFAs, while de novo synthesis and lipolysis are inhibited

obese animals in this study showed a 50% reduction in relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes (i.e., acetate and propionate producers), whereas the Firmicutes (i.e., butyrate producers) were proportionally increased compared with the lean counterparts.

increase in total fecal SCFA concentrations in obese humans.

In humans the distinct relation between the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio and obesity is less clear.

Density is determined largely by the relative concentrations of triacylglycerols and proteins and by the diameters of the broadly spherical particles

these classes can be further refined by improved separation procedures, and intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) and subdivisions of the HDL (e.g. HDL1, HDL2, HDL3 and so forth

the main groups are classified as chylomicrons (CM), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), based on the relative densities of the aggregates on ultracentrifugation

the various lipid components should not be considered as absolute, as they are in a state of constant flux

Apo A1 is the main protein component of HDL

Apo A2 is the second most important HDL apolipoprotein

Lipoproteins are spherical (VLDL, LDL, HDL) to discoidal (nascent HDL) in shape with a core of non-polar lipids, triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters, and a surface monolayer, ~20Å thick, consisting of apoproteins, phospholipids and non-esterified cholesterol, which serves to present a hydrophobic face to the aqueous phase

The lipoproteins can be categorised simplistically according to their two main metabolic functions. The principal role of the chylomicrons and VLDL is to transport triacylglycerols ‘forward’ as a source of fatty acids from the intestines or liver to the peripheral tissues. In contrast, the HDL remove excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and deliver it to the liver for excretion in bile in the form of bile acids (‘reverse cholesterol transport’). While these functions are considered separately here for convenience, it should be recognised that the processes are highly complex and inter-related, and they involve transfer of apoproteins, enzymes and lipid constituents among the heterogeneous mix of all the lipoprotein fractions.

In a recent five-year study of nearly 30,000 rural Chinese people, researchers from the NCI found that daily doses of these three nutrients reduced cancer deaths by 13%.

In a study in Cancer Letters (Evangelou et al. 1997), animals with malignant tumors given high doses of vitamins C and E and selenium manifested a significant prolongation of the mean survival time. Complete remission of tumors developed in 16.8% of the animals

cities and states with high selenium content in the soil also had significantly lower rates of cancer, especially of the digestive and urinary systems.

In one study of hundreds of men, a daily intake of 200 micrograms of selenium cut the incidence of prostate cancer by 60 percent.

The statistics for breast cancer are particularly striking. "The higher the selenium, the lower the breast cancer

In Yugoslavia, scientists studied 33 patients with breast cancer. These women had selenium levels in their bloodstream only half those of healthy volunteers.

The overall reduction in cancer incidence was 37% in the selenium-supplemented group; a 50% reduction in cancer mortality was observed over a 10-year period

The following are the site-specific reductions in cancer incidence observed in the study: colon-rectal cancers (58%), lung cancer (46%), and prostate cancer (63%)

A selenium deficiency appears to increase the risk of prostate cancer fourfold to fivefold

It was determined that, as the male population ages, selenium levels decrease, paralleling an increase in prostate cancer

O3 not only remedied infection, but also had hemodynamic and anti-inflammatory properties

Stimulation of oxygen metabolism

In fungi, O3 inhibits cell growth at certain stages

With viruses, the O3 damages the viral capsid and upsets the reproductive cycle by disrupting the virus-to-cell contact with peroxidation.

Inactivation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and protozoa: Ozone therapy disrupts the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope through oxidation of the phospholipids and lipoproteins

Activation of the immune system

30 and 55 μg/cc

production of interferon and the greatest output of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-2

Mechanism of action of O3 on the human lung

cascade of reactions like peroxidation of lipids leading to changes in membrane permeability,[41] lipid ozonation products (LOP) act as signal transducer molecules

Dietary antioxidants or free radical scavengers like vitamin E, C, etc., can prevent aforementioned effects of O3