How L Ornithine Supports Gut Health And Inflammation
L ornithine is an amino acid linked to gut cell health through microbial interactions and lower levels of inflammation within the intestines. The amino acid l ornithine is not directly involved in the production of our bodily proteins but has been linked to the optimal functioning of various processes within our bodies.
For example l ornithine is involved in excess nitrogen removal through ammonia detoxification. Current research shows that l ornithine could be influential on optimal energy production and the reduction of fatigue. Ammonia build up is thought to be a cause of exercise induced fatigue. You can read our article on the possible benefits of l ornithine supplements here.
To really boost l ornithine levels you may have to supplement as this amino acid is not found in rich amounts in our daily foods. Our commensal gut bacteria also produce some l ornithine. Fermented kimchi may be rich in certain ornithine producing bacteria.
Studies have shown that gut bacteria which actively produce more l ornithine encourage more optimal gut health. Some researchers believe l ornithine may be a means as to how healthy gut bacteria may communicate with our gut to support optimal gut health.
Here the possible benefits of l ornithine in supporting more optimal gut health will be considered to show how this amino acid could be of benefit for your wellbeing.
How L Ornithine Helps Our Gut
The various means as to how l ornithine may influence our gut are only just beginning to be understood. Especially in terms of how l ornithine influences gut inflammation. Current research shows that l ornithine could encourage gut cell growth and possibly reduce inflammation in the gut too. These are important deciding factors for the overall wellbeing of our gut.
L Ornithine And Gut Barrier Health
One study showed that gut bacteria known as lactobacilli encourage healthy gut barrier formation through producing higher levels of l ornithine when compared to other gut bacteria. Specifically l ornithine helped to reinforce the healthy physical mucus and intestinal cell barrier found in the intestines. Other studies have shown that ornithine may also improve intestinal tight junction functioning and lower inflammatory responses in some immune cells.
Increases in l ornithine were not just found in the small intestine but also the microbe rich colon of our large intestine. There is some evidence that an l ornithine supplement would have mirrored effects on overall gut health.
Our gut barrier is very important for preventing the disruption of the intestines. This reduces the risks of developing leaky gut or inflammatory gut diseases such as gluten intolerance or coeliac disease. Without a healthy gut barrier all sorts of molecules could enter the gut and bloodstream.
Interestingly the risk of gut infection by pathogens should naturally reduce following the reinforcement of the gut barrier. Research shows l ornithine may be a part of a private communication channel through which our gut communicates with healthy gut bacteria to support the gut environment. This study is particularly ground breaking within gut health research.
L Ornithine And Gut Inflammation
Our intestines are susceptible to inflammation and when this becomes chronic people may develop gut inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or coeliac disease.
A study separate from the one with lactobacilli found that another commensal gut bacteria enhanced a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease through l ornithine to support optimal gut health in IBD sufferers. Other research from just this year has found that gut microbe l ornithine could reduce inflammation signals within the gut. L ornithine may reduce signal from gut inflammatory cytokines and promote immunosuppressive macrophage activity. The study also suggests that commensal or healthy gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Enterococcus have a strong possible inflammation reducing action via l ornithine.
Inflammatory macrophage or white blood cell activity in fat tissues was reduced from increases in gut microbial l ornithine. Studies have shown that ornithine is able to naturally reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines in some situations. L ornithine has been suggested to be able to reduce the inflammatory response in IDB. Sufficient l ornithine levels in the gut may therefore support gut health through lower gut or local inflammation.
L ornithine is associated with lower BMI or body mass index so may also play a role in the development of obesity. Obesity has been shown to trigger systemic inflammation and some healthy gut bacteria also influence healthy weight management. Systemic inflammation could also influence local gut sensitivity to inflammation and vice versa.
These l ornithine influenced factors may all link together to influence gut health and our overall wellbeing too.
L Ornithine And Energy Production Inflammation
Another means through which systemic and local inflammation is influenced is via abnormal energy production. Energy fatigue states and mitochondrial dysfunctions are linked to changes in inflammation levels. These may increase local or systemic inflammation levels and therefore may also affect gut inflammation or gut sensitivity to inflammation. This naturally has consequences for the health and wellbeing of our gut.
The amino acid l ornithine influences ammonia detoxification. This is thought to be a decisive influencer on feelings of fatigue during exercise. L ornithine does this through assisting the production of urine and urea cycle. L ornithine assists with removing excess nitrogen from the body which could be harmful. This may be the most important process l ornithine is involved in within the body.
Healthy ammonia detoxification may improve the efficiency of energy production and therefore reduce fatigue. Improvements in efficiency of energy production and reductions in energy fatigue states from l ornithine could naturally reduce levels of inflammation. Reductions in systemic and local inflammation from l ornithine may therefore impact the health of gut.
Other possible effects from l ornithine which have been noticed by researchers include the possible reduction of cortisol levels and body perceived stress. Higher cortisol levels influence levels of proinflammatory cytokines and primes immune cells for immune defences. Reductions in cortisol may reduce inflammation in the gut. This is another way l ornithine could influence gut health.
L Ornithine And Gut Wound Healing
Our gut is also prone to minor wounds or inflammatory damage. This is a subject which is not discussed very often.
Some researchers have found that l ornithine supplements could enhance wound healing. Considering that gut tissue is a bodily tissue there may be a link between restorative gut wall healing and l ornithine levels.
Initial studies show that l ornithine could mildly improve growth hormone levels and this could assist wound healing. Seeing as growth hormone promotes metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids higher levels of l ornithine could influence the healing of gut wall tissues.
Gut wall maintenance is an important process. Especially because the optimal intake or absorption of our nutrients depends on the health of our intestines. Nutrient intake influences various aspects of our health.
Overall the research shows that l ornithine could have an influence on gut health through inflammation mediation and gut barrier or wall maintenance.
Summary
L ornithine is linked to gut cell health and inflammation. While l ornithine is not directly involved in forming our proteins this amino acid plays a part in different bodily processes.
L ornithine helps the body to remove excess nitrogen through ammonia detoxification. This amino acid is therefore influential on energy production and fatigue prevention. L ornithine is difficult to obtain from our diet in large amounts but our gut bacteria produce this amino acid.
Some of our healthy or commensal gut bacteria seem to produce more l ornithine and this process has been linked with intestinal barrier strength. Research into this area is something which has only just begun.
L ornithine may also support inflammation lowering responses at a local and systemic level which would also reduce overall gut inflammation. Recent studies have shown that l ornithine may influence intestinal barrier cell growth or healing and could be part of a communication channel with our gut microbes. The gut barrier is very important for preventing leaky gut which could lead to inflammatory gut diseases or infections.
Healthy l ornithine levels could also influence energy production. This may be another means as to how l ornithine influences gut inflammation and health.
Overall the research shows that l ornithine could influence gut health through inflammation mediation and gut barrier maintenance.
For more interesting articles see the main articles page.
