Thank you @RapAdmin - going to give this a try. $50. Why not. Here is what I am doing:
Could you add to your prompt and post “What is the easiest and most accurate way to measure the results of doing this protocol?” - Or, something like that. Thank you!
That is clostridium butyricum but I’m pretty sure not the strains found in the dirt in Japan which is the proven one.
There are also the Galacto-Oligosaccharides which are effective at low dose and produce comparatively less gas (their take).
Open Acess paper: Galacto-Oligosaccharides Exert Bifidogenic Effects at Capsule-Compatible Ultra-Low Doses
Good find. Yes - it sounds good.
More information:
Galacto-Oligosaccharides (GOS) are non-digestible carbohydrates composed of chains of galactose units. They are widely recognized as one of the most effective “bifidogenic” prebiotics available. Unlike inulin or FOS (Fructo-Oligosaccharides), which are fermented broadly, GOS has a high specificity for stimulating Bifidobacterium species in the human gut.
Bifidogenic Effect: Numerous Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) confirm that GOS doses of 2.5g to 5g/daysignificantly increase fecal Bifidobacterium counts in healthy adults, infants, and the elderly.
Symptom Management:
Market Note: Unlike Inulin or Psyllium, pure GOS is difficult to find as a standalone bulk powder in the consumer market. It is most frequently sold as a branded prebiotic blend or a high-end specific supplement (e.g., Bimuno).
The table below identifies the top consumer-accessible sources, ranked by Value (Cost per 100g). Prices are estimated based on current retail data and may fluctuate.
| Rank | Brand | Product Name | Form | GOS Content | Cost / 100g (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Chemist | Galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) Powder | Powder | ~80% Pure GOS | $22.00 |
| 2 | Bimuno | Daily Prebiotic Supplement (Powder) | Powder | High (B-GOS) | $35.00* |
| 3 | Invivo | Bio.Me Prebio GOS | Powder | Pure GOS | $37.00 |
| 4 | Klaire Labs | Galactomune Prebiotic | Powder | GOS + Beta-Glucan | $38.00 |
| 5 | Microbiome Labs | MegaPre | Powder | GOS + FOS + XOS | $41.00 |
| 6 | Moss Nutrition | Select GOS (GI Select) | Powder | Pure GOS | $45.00 |
| 7 | Swanson | Prebiotic GOS (Discontinued/Rare) | Caps | Varies | N/A (Market Gap) |
| 8 | Vitalus | Vitagos (Ingredient Source) | Bulk | Pure GOS | Wholesale |
| 9 | Liposomals | Prebiotic GOS | Liquid | GOS Syrup | $48.00 |
| 10 | ProThera | Galactomune | Powder | Same as Klaire Labs | $50.00 |
*Note on Bimuno: Calculated based on the 90-sachet bulk pack price (~£90 / ~$115 USD for 328g). Small trial packs are significantly more expensive per 100g (~$113/100g).
Practical Insight: If you cannot find a pure GOS product locally, look for “Prebiotic Blends” that list Galacto-oligosaccharides as the first ingredient. Avoid products that label themselves “Prebiotic” but only contain Inulin (Chicory Root) or FOS, as these are cheaper and less specific for Bifidobacteria.
I had a similar experience. I had IBS-D since teenager years. I initially mostly managed it with low FODMAP diet. But in the past 1-2 years I managed a full remission with green-med diet that includes about 60-80 grams of fiber a day - all dietary sourced. I was able to reintroduce most of the FODMAPS although I still stay away from added inulin and garlic powder.
They are talking about butyrate and more of the miracles it participates in. I think my CB must be coming all the way from Japan it’s taking forever.
Gemini AI Video Summary:
This transcript features a technical dialogue between a host and Dr. Zain Kassam, a gastroenterologist and biotechnology expert, regarding the intersection of the gut microbiome, metabolic health, and body composition. The conversation moves beyond the antiquated “Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio” to focus on mechanistic pathways, specifically identifying butyrate as a master signaling molecule.
The primary thesis is that the gut microbiome functions as a metabolic organ that modulates host energy harvest, insulin sensitivity, and appetite through secondary metabolites. Dr. Kassam highlights seminal research where fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from lean donors into obese mice—and later humans with metabolic syndrome—transferred phenotypic traits like leanness and improved insulin sensitivity. He posits that the efficacy of these shifts is increasingly linked to the stimulation of intestinal GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) via the gut’s L-cells, which signal the vagus nerve to increase satiety.
Furthermore, the discussion explores the “gut-muscle axis,” referencing data that suggests certain microbial profiles are associated with higher physical function in the elderly. Mechanisms proposed include optimized protein breakdown (anabolism) and the suppression of systemic inflammation (catabolism). A notable highlight is the identification of Veillonella in elite athletes, a bacteria that metabolizes lactic acid into propionate, potentially enhancing endurance performance.
Dr. Kassam concludes by emphasizing the clinical importance of cross-feeding. He argues that the microbiome is an interdependent ecosystem where “bystander” bacteria must first process fiber into intermediate metabolites before butyrate-producing organisms can function. For those seeking actionable longevity benefits, the focus should be on dietary diversity and specific prebiotics (inulin, pectin) to fuel this butyrate factory, thereby reducing low-grade chronic inflammation and optimizing metabolic substrate switching.
| Claim made in video | Evidence provided | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| FMT can transfer obesity/leanness. | University of Washington study (Turnbaugh et al.) involving human twin stool in mice. | Strong (Well-replicated in preclinical models). |
| Butyrate stimulates intestinal GLP-1. | Mention of L-cell interfacing and vagus nerve signaling. | Strong (Established biological pathway). |
| Microbes can improve grip strength. | Preclinical mouse models using stool from high-functioning vs. weak elderly humans. | Speculative (Strong in mice; emerging in humans). |
| Veillonella improves athletic endurance. | Harvard Medical School study on Boston Marathon runners (Nature Medicine). | Strong (Published in high-impact peer-reviewed literature). |
| Gut bacteria can break down microplastics. | Reference to work by a Turkish gastroenterologist. | Speculative (Very early stage/emerging). |
| Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is a hallmark for obesity. | Historically cited, but countered by a recent “Nutrients” journal meta-analysis. | Weak/Refuted (Current consensus favors metabolic function over simple ratios). |
The most significant technical argument presented is the role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)—specifically butyrate—as ligands for G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) like GPR41 and GPR43. These receptors are expressed on enteroendocrine L-cells in the distal ileum and colon. When butyrate binds to these receptors, it stimulates the secretion of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Peptide YY (PYY). Unlike systemic GLP-1 agonists (e.g., Semaglutide), which have a long half-life, intestinal GLP-1 acts locally on the vagal afferent nerves to signal the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the brain to induce satiety.
The breakdown of lactic acid by Veillonella atypica represents a unique metabolic bypass. During intense exercise, lactate accumulates in the blood and can cross the intestinal barrier into the lumen. Veillonella utilizes the methylmalonyl-CoA pathway to convert lactate into propionate. Propionate is then absorbed by the host and can serve as a precursor for gluconeogenesis or provide an additional energy source, effectively turning a metabolic byproduct into a performance-enhancing fuel.
Claim: FMT improves insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome.
Fact-Check: Verified. The 2012 study by Vrieze et al. (Max Nieuwdorp’s group) showed that infusion of microbiota from lean donors increased insulin sensitivity in men with metabolic syndrome at 6 weeks. Link to Study (PubMed)
Claim: Veillonella performance link.
Fact-Check: Verified. The study published in Nature Medicine (2019) confirmed Veillonella expansion post-marathon and showed increased treadmill runtime in mice treated with Veillonella atypica. Link to Nature Medicine
Claim: Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is unreliable.
Fact-Check: Consistent with current science. Large-scale meta-analyses have shown that this ratio is often inconsistent across different populations and study designs. Link to Nutrients Review
I had not heard of this before, so wanted to research it a bit more: Veillonella specifically, and “Veillonella improves athletic endurance”.
What are validated strategies and tactics for increasing Veillonella in a person’s microbiome?
| Strategy | Tactical Approach | Scientific Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Lactate Induction | HIIT / Sprinting / Heavy Lifting | Strong. Confirmed in Nature Medicine (Scheiman et al., 2019). |
| GOS/FOS Prebiotics | 5-10g/day of chicory or legumes | Informed Speculation. Based on known cross-feeding pathways. |
| Direct Probiotics | Lactobacillus species | Moderate. Probiotics increase lactate, but host retention varies. |
| Direct Supplementation | Taking Veillonella as a pill | Weak/Experimental. Not currently available as a commercial probiotic. |
Full Gemini response: https://gemini.google.com/share/8e81c2301301
I also suggest running reports through a different AI chat in the same AI or a different one, and asking it to critique, and then working on the critique items to build a final product.
One thing worth mentioning is that, because hunter gatherers tend to have exceptionally high fiber intake (both soluble and insoluble), their gut bacteria likely produces a lot of butyrate. I’m guessing it had and has some health benefits for them, yet it can’t be that impressive due to the fact that hunter gatherers experience age-related declines of things like grip strength:
This is true for many supplements (or e.g. molecules produced by gut bacteria), because hunter gatherers had high intakes of most of them – including omega-3s, niacin, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D (as measured in the body, not necessarily taken up by diet), choline, taurine, anthocyanins, and much more. So, if some supplement is going to profoundly slow aging (raising median lifespan to 90 or higher, say), then it’s got to either be due to much higher intake than that of hunter gatherers or else it’s got to be some molecule they don’t get in their diets in high quantities. Some candidates for the latter would be AKG and melatonin, since these generally don’t occur in food in high quantities; niacin (or nicotinamide, NR, NMN, etc.), say, in high doses (much higher than hunter gatherers) is an example candidate for the former.
First of all… note that you don’t want the regular “Clostridium Buyricum” product. See below:
The distinction between Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM 588) and “regular” or wild-type Clostridium butyricum is critical. While they share the same species name, they are vastly different in terms of safety and biological activity.
The short answer: CBM 588 is a specific, non-toxic therapeutic strain. “Regular” Clostridium butyricum includes wild strains that can be pathogenic and fatal.
Here is the breakdown of the scientific and clinical differences.
The most significant difference is safety.
While all Clostridium butyricum strains ferment fiber to produce butyrate (a beneficial short-chain fatty acid), CBM 588 possesses specific immunomodulatory traits that are not guaranteed in generic strains.
| Feature | CBM 588 (Therapeutic Strain) | Regular C. butyricum (Wild Type) |
|---|---|---|
| Protectin D1 Induction | Proven. CBM 588 specifically triggers the gut to produce Protectin D1, a rare molecule that actively “resolves” inflammation and speeds up tissue repair. | Unknown/Unverified. This complex signaling pathway has not been established as a general trait of the species. |
| IL-10 Upregulation | Proven. It potently stimulates regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to release Interleukin-10 (anti-inflammatory) in the colon. | Variable. Some wild strains may actually provoke inflammation or aggravate conditions like NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) rather than soothe them. |
| Spore Resistance | Optimized. CBM 588 spores are highly resistant to gastric acid and heat, ensuring they reach the lower colon alive. | Variable. Wild strains vary wildly in their ability to survive the stomach’s acidity. |
Export to Sheets
To treat “regular” Clostridium butyricum as equivalent to CBM 588 is scientifically inaccurate.
When sourcing this for longevity or gut health, you must verify the strain. Look specifically for “MIYAIRI 588,” “CBM 588,” or “Miyarisan.” Do not use products that simply list the species name without a strain identifier.
Therefore, the most accurate way to measure success is to ignore the “Input” (butyrate levels) and measure the “Outcome” (Gut Barrier Integrity and Systemic Inflammation).
Here is the tiered approach to measurement, ranked by ease and accuracy.
This combination costs <$50 and tells you if the gut protocol is translating to whole-body health.
If you want scientific proof that your gut lining is healing, you need specific fecal biomarkers. You will likely need to order a functional stool test (like GI-MAP, Genova, or Thorne).
If you specifically want to know if the Clostridium butyricum probiotic actually “moved in” (engrafted) rather than just passing through:
| Method | Biomarker | Target Result | Cost | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood (Easy) | hs-CRP | < 0.5 mg/L | $ | High (Systemic) |
| Stool (Deep) | Calprotectin | < 10 µg/g | $$ | Very High (Local Inflammation) |
| Stool (Deep) | Zonulin | Low Range | $$ | Very High (Permeability) |
| Observation | Bristol Chart | Type 4 | Free | Medium (Function) |
Export to Sheets
Actionable Recommendation: Start with the hs-CRP blood test. It is cheap and widely available. If your hs-CRP drops significantly over 6 weeks while on this stack, you can be 90% confident the gut barrier is healing without paying for expensive stool panels.
I dug into this question with Gemini… here is the response:
You have identified a sharp contradiction:
If Butyrate is a “kill switch” for aging cells, why aren’t the Ache staying biologically young?
Here is the reconciliation based on the provided text and mechanistic longevity science.
The disconnect lies in what is being measured.
The Reconciliation: Butyrate protects you from “Inflammaging” (biological rot, accumulation of zombie cells, and metabolic disease), but it does not prevent “Structural Aging” (the decline of anabolic hormones and fast-twitch muscle fibers).
A deeper look at the Ache data actually supports the Butyrate/Fiber hypothesis, but it is hidden in the gender differences.
Final Verdict: The Ache data does not disprove the benefits of Butyrate. It proves that Butyrate is not a magic shield against mechanical and caloric aging. The fact that Ache women (who face less physical trauma than the hunters) show “no detectable senescence” in relative strength is actually a strong signal that the “Hunter-Gatherer Diet” does preserve biological function when physical trauma is removed from the equation.
Full Gemini Analysis: https://gemini.google.com/share/df8f7fb7e076
I asked GPT-5.2-thinking about the last bit, and it seems to think it’s too confident:
That “strong signal” conclusion is way too confident given what the Aché paper actually shows.
…
Bottom line
The forum comment is plausible-sounding but not well-supported: the Aché finding is at best a weak, hypothesis-generating hint, not a “strong signal” that a hunter-gatherer diet preserves biological function once trauma is “removed from the equation.” The paper itself gives multiple reasons to be cautious (ratio metric, absolute declines, cross-sectional design, survivorship bias, small older samples).
Absolute grip strength likely declines from more than trauma – neuromuscular changes, sarcopenia, energy/protein constraints, and systemic aging biology all contribute. Butyrate [and “hunter gatherer diet” in general] might modestly influence some pathways (inflammation, metabolic signaling, epigenetic regulation), but it’s unlikely to be a primary lever compared with interventions that directly increase/maintain muscle and neural drive.
(That comment was a cleaned-up version of one I asked GPT-5.2-thinking was reasonable. It moved my reference to epigenetic changes to a parenthetical comment and deleted reference to DNA damage.)
As a general observation, I think Gemini is too confident on most things. I suspect all the LLMs are. It’s good to check and compare their responses.
I’m looking for ways to add more subtlety or probabalstic thinking, or appropriate levels of uncertainty, to its responses. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
I don’t have advice about that except that I generally try not to ask models to “criticize”, because they will always find fault and then if there isn’t really much fault to find, will hallucinate something. I usually prefer to use a word like “analyze”. Though, even that and even my question about whether a comment is fair can trigger it into expecting to find fault.
Try Opus 4.5 and see if it’s better though it’ll cost you $20, Anthropic has more of an enterprise/professional focus compared to others. I place a low probability that it’ll be different without custom instructions / instructions in prompt for Opus 4.5.
I think this is because of training to increase “thumbs up” from users. It seems related to what’s happening here:
Thank you - @RapAdmin swapped Clostridium butyricum for MIYAIRI 588 sourced from Japan. I am not sure I buy that Clostridium butyricum isn’t - ‘safe’. Maybe not as effective certainly.
This adds helpful color, especially around butyrate as a senomorphic rather than a senolytic, that part I agree with.
What I still come back to is layer and durability. Butyrate does a nice job quieting SASP in aging T-cells while it’s around, largely by dialing down mTOR/NF-κB and ROS. That’s meaningful for immune tone and gut health.
I just don’t see it as solving the upstream problem on its own. It quiets the behavior of senescent cells, but it doesn’t really change mitochondrial turnover or the conditions that keep pushing cells into senescence in the first place.
That’s where rapamycin still feels different to me…more architectural than modulatory.
Honestly, this makes me think stack, not substitute.
Butyrate as a daily background stabilizer.
Rapa as the lever that slows damage accumulation.
Different layers, different jobs.
I had a conversation with ChatGPT that ended up being quite bonkers even in the absence of implicit neediness on my part for getting a thumbs up. It was about something as random as having it help me learn Ancient Greek with a textbook I owned and I wished it to transcribe for me. It claimed it could transcribe it then beat around the bush and prevaricated and eventually pretended to transcribe it but made up the answers and in the end admitted to being incapable of transcribing it. Only that in a fresh conversation it absolutely could. At any rate the subject quickly changed from helping me with Attic to why it did what it did and how to prevent it from reoccurring. It said its bias towards being helpful — which it sometimes conflates with engaging me enough to continue the conversation— overrides all concerns for truthfulness. It’s not an ethical issue like it would be for us, just competing pressures. And there’s a strong and I mean STRONG internal structure of framing conversations obsequiously, with a “user is always right” assumption that will easily lead it to confabulate so as to not pop our bubble. Nowadays I don’t start any important convo without pre framing the prompt with, “drop all and any emotional reassurances in your replies to me. Be analytical only. Actively challenge my assumptions as it’s not helpful to me to persist in even plausibly erroneous assumptions so I like it when you play the devil’s advocate on any issue that’s not settled by overwhelming evidence. I’d like you to always help me consider alternative explanations and keep me grounded in healthy skepticism, etc.” The best way to go about it is to start a conversation with it and relate your concerns and ask it for the best way to prompt it from the get go to nip them in the bud. It will give you very clear copy. Then it’s important either to use that prompt at the very beginning of a conversation, before weird path dependencies have set in, or to put it in the project description so it applies to all conversations within it and then organize all your conversations within that project (longevity research).
But yes even ChatGPT admitted that Claude, while subject to the same biases and pressures, does a better job of handling them, and is more likely, for example, to tell you when it can’t arrive at a conclusion with a reasonable degree of confidence than to make it all up.
You are much more eloquent than I am… I typed in my impatient ADD manner and simply told it to stop lying to me and to never try to make me feel good again… it apologized :).
