Case reports from practice
Within the Microbiome Center, practical cases are regularly discussed during intervision meetings. By sharing experiences, treatment strategies and outcomes with each other, affiliated practitioners continue to learn from each other.
We develop the most valuable and instructive cases into a case report. Here you will find a selection of practical examples in which the starting situation, treatment and results are described.
Acne
On May 30, we gave an interesting webinar about the relationship between the skin and the intestine. Something you will probably encounter regularly in practice. In the webinar, this beautiful case came up from one of our affiliated doctors that we do not want to withhold from you. Eva is 32 years old and has suffered from acne for 16 years and also suffered from recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Several dermatological treatments have had no effect. She also suffers from fatigue and various hormonal complaints. She has been adjusting her diet to a diet that is low in carbohydrates for some time and she does not eat sugars, unfortunately this has had no effect on her symptoms. This photo shows her skin before the treatment.
Her microbiome shows a diversity of 6 and a dysbiosis index of 20, a good amount of butyrate-producing bacteria but a significant overgrowth of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia and Pseudomonas, and a slight increase in Candida Parapslilosis and no evidence of inflammation or leaky gut.
The treatment consisted of • MyOwnBlend with the following ingredients:
- And vitD, linidol, magnesium, Omega3, silybum-curcuma, lypogold (enzymes), Kandillon
Nothing was changed in her diet.
After 6 weeks it goes very well, almost all her complaints have disappeared, she is no longer tired, wakes up rested, no longer has vaginal complaints and her skin looks radiant, even in the months that follow it continues to go well. The measurement shows an impressive decrease in the (potentially) pathogenic bacteria.
Response of attending physician Roos Quadekker:
I am impressed by the positive result. A great example of how personalized microbiome therapy can contribute to improving total health. And also nice to see how sustainable the change is and that after this therapy the body can maintain homeostasis again. In the spotlight: The Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SP1 is known to reduce acne, probably because it acts on insulin resistance1. In addition, this strain is also used to improve oral health and to support the breakdown of gluten.
- Fabbrocini, G. et al. Beneficial Microbes 7, 625–630 (2016)
This is of course what we do it for as a Microbiome Center, but also you as a practitioner. In practice, we see that 72% of people who use a MyOwnBlend show a good or very good result, and we can increase this percentage by learning more about the treatment results of our patients together. We build up that knowledge together, you as a practitioner by using our platform, the patient by sharing his results, and we by analyzing them and returning this knowledge to the system. We want to share an inspiring case with you every month. If you have a case of your own and would like to share it for learning in inspiration, please contact us!
Autism
Microbiome Therapy in Autism
Fila (6 years old), from a Bulgarian family, was registered with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) made in April 2024 at the University Hospital Frankfurt. She suffered daily from a bloated belly, urge to eat (especially carbohydrates/sugar), no feeling of satiety, restless behavior, abnormal bowel patterns and could not speak – only make sounds. There were frequent toilet visits with little output, widely varying stool consistency, and suspicions of systemic and neurological imbalances. At the start she used a.o. Omni-Biotic 9 and Gilalia.
Diagnostics Highly disturbed diversity (low Shannon index) and increased dysbiosis index Increased intestinal permeability (including increased zonulin and secretory IgA) Overgrowth of potentially pathogenic species
Microbiome analysis April 2024: clear abnormalities
Treatment and build-up
After analysis, the following was started: - MyOwnBlend (customized preparation with LGG, Bifidobacterium, prebiotics, anti-inflammatory substances, among others)
Clinical effect within 4 weeks
- Bloated belly disappeared
- Stool stabilized (2–3 times a day, less variable)
- Balance and calmer behavior
- Onset of speech development
- Neurological examination confirmed clinical improvement
Course and follow-up research
During the summer/autumn 2024:
- Mother reports: less skin complaints, more calmness, improved adaptation
- Started with Lunafini in September
- Clear improvement visible on EEG scan compared to October 2023
Second microbiome analysis fall 2024
- Overgrowth potential pathogens disappeared
- Still increased intestinal permeability
Second phase MyOwnBlend
New composition from December 2024:
- LGG, S. boulardii, Akkermansia, PHGG, 2'-FL
- First reaction: soft, smelly stools → dosage adjusted Within a few days, the balance was restored and Fila did not get any infections, despite her mother being seriously ill.
Winter 2024/2025: Language Development and Cognitive Gains - Fila Began to Understand Questions and Consider Answers - Better Memory and Learning Ability - She Can Now Retain Information, Which She Couldn't Do Before - "She's calm, everything is going well," says her mother
Conclusion: microbial modulation as a risk in ASD
Fila is an example of how targeted microbiome therapy, based on extensive analysis, can reduce not only gastrointestinal complaints but also behavioral and can positively influence neurological symptoms in children with autism. In children with GI complaints and autism, treating the microbiome is a promising and substantiated intervention route. Questions about this case or about the use of MyOwnBlend in autism? Feel free to contact the Microbiome Center. We like to think along in clinically complex situations.
New ingredient with evidence for effect on autism
A small study with a formulation where the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lpc-37 part of was, shows some beneficial effect on autism. If you score for autism in the advice help, this strain can be part of the advice (depending on which other indications have been scored).
Webinar Autism Missed the webinar on autism? This can be viewed at the Videos on our website
Histamine
Histamine and SIBO – a breakthrough in treatment!
We get a lot of questions about histamine, both from patients and practitioners, which is why we recently devoted an extensive webinar to it.
One of the cases discussed was this: A 39-year-old man had been struggling with chronic abdominal complaints since childhood , fatigue, headaches, mental overstimulation, chronic nasal congestion and OSAS. Despite various investigations, a solution was not forthcoming. Diagnostics A SIBO breath test showed hydrogen SIBO, and microbiome analysis showed increased inflammatory markers, increased intestinal permeability, increased anti-gliadin antibodies, extremely high histamine levels.
Results 13-04-2024:
Approach & treatment:
- Dietary intervention: elimination of gluten and sugars, increased protein intake.
- 2 weeks of Elemental Diet followed by MyOwnBlend and digestive enzymes.
Results after 3 months:
✅ SIBO solved
✅Histamine fully normalized
✅ Complaints greatly reduced (no abdominal pain, better nasal breathing, more energy, less headaches)
✅ More than 10 kg weight loss Results 01-07-2024:
Webinar Histamine
Missed the webinar on histamine? This can be viewed at the Videos on our website
Depression
The role of the gut microbiome in psychological complaints: a successful case study
Did you know that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in brain and psyche health? A disturbed gut microbiome can contribute to psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety and fatigue. At the Microbiome Center, we see every day how personalized microbiome treatments can make a decisive difference.
A special case
Erik (23 years old) had been struggling for 10 years with serious mood problems, sleeping problems, headaches, stomach aches and loss of energy. Despite several consultations with medical specialists, the cause remained unclear and the complaints persistent. It became impossible for him to continue his studies. He was now was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but due to the long waiting time of six months, he started microbiome treatment in the meantime . During a Microbiome analysis we discovered signs of SIBO and a strongly disturbed intestinal flora. Erik received a tailored treatment with MyOwnBlend, including probiotics, PHGG (fiber) and other targeted elements.
The result?
- Sleep pattern restored: from 15 to 8 hours per night.
- Energy level: from 10-20 to 70-80 on a scale of 0-100.
- Abdominal complaints: completely disappeared.
- Allergic reactions: gone.
- Mood: significantly improved (from 1 to 8 on a scale of 10)
Erik was able to resume his studies with pleasure and now experiences enough energy to cope with his daily activities. Both Erik and his mother are convinced that without this microbiome treatment, his complaints would not have been resolved.
What does this mean for your practice?
This case once again underlines the strong link between the gut microbiome and the psyche. Targeted microbiome analysis and personalized therapies offer new leads for the treatment of both physical and psychological complaints. Do you have questions about personalized microbiome treatments or how you can support your patients in this? Please feel free to contact us!
Depression Webinar
Missed the webinar on depression? This can be viewed at the Videos on our website
Vaginal Probiotics Ovules
Positive Experiences with Vaginal Probiotics Ovules
The vaginal microbiome has a completely different character than the gut microbiome, where, for example, a very low diversity is seen as healthy. A healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by one of four Lactobacillus bacterial species, in which the dominance of L. crispatus associated with health. Over the past two years, we have gained extensive experience using our vaginal probiotic ovules. We have received numerous positive responses from users who have benefited from this treatment for a variety of vaginal conditions, such as candida, bacterial vaginosis, and even fertility issues. Below we would like to share the experience of one of our affiliated doctors, who has tried the ovules himself.
User experience
Profile: Woman, 40 years old, doctor Complaint: Recurrent fungal infections, where she preferred not to use medication Treatment: Prescribed vaginal ovules to herself
Her findings:
"The symptoms of itching and crumbly discharge disappeared very quickly. I used the ovules for over a week, and then I stopped during my period. Then I used one ovule twice, right after my period. This has ensured that to date both the candida and an unpleasant odor stay away. So I would definitely recommend the ovules."
Product information: Vaginal Probiotics Ovules
Our vaginal ovules contain three active strains:
- L. crispatus SP28 (2.5x10⁹ cfu/ovule)
- L. crispatus LCR01 (2.5x10⁹ cfu/ovule)
- L. acidophilus La02 (2.5x10⁹ cfu/ovule)
The matrix of the ovule is composed of cocoa butter and coconut butter, which ensures optimal application. Availability: Available in packs of 30 vaginal ovules for €88,-. A leaflet with clear instructions is included.
Order or more information? Feel free to contact us or visit our website for more details.
SIBO
SIBO stands for "Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth", the presence of too many bacteria in the small intestine that cause complaints. Very common and difficult to treat.
Therefore, here is a practical example.
This 52-year-old woman came to the doctor's office with skin complaints, itchy spots on arms, legs and torso, which were present in one place for days to weeks and then reappeared in another place. In addition, she was very tired. Her symptoms arose after she had received a double course of antibiotics due to a Lyme infection. Upon inquiry, it turned out that she also had problems with her intestines, she regularly felt very bloated and had variable, somewhat hard and laborious, greasy, sticky stools. She was a yoga teacher, had a nice job in healthcare that she could no longer practice due to her fatigue, had a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and a little fish and meat. She did notice that she could no longer tolerate dairy well, which caused an increase in her abdominal complaints. Her microbiome analysis showed the following: Diversity 6, dysbiosis index 18, PH 6.9 Low levels of enterococci and lactobacilli, high fat content and increased zonulin.
Personalized treatment
Due to a strong suspicion of SIBO, the treatment was focused on that, but also on her specific health problems and complaints: bloating, fatigue, slightly leaky gut, etc. She was prescribed a MyOwnBlend containing the following ingredients:
She used this according to the thermos bottle method: at the end of the day, dissolve the daily dosage for the next day in a thermos flask lukewarm (37gr) water, let it stand overnight and drink it in bits at a time during the next day. For example, the bacteria have already taken action, they already produce active metabolites such as lactate and acetate, and they are immediately active at the time of ingestion.
Follow-up
Her skin complaints disappeared in three weeks, see the photos before and after below:
She no longer suffered from a surprised feeling and had neat stools once a day (BSC 3-4). But more importantly, she had her energy back and could go back to work. The post-measurement also showed a nice improvement: Diversity 5, dysbiosis index 17, PH 6.5
Diagnostics
To make the diagnosis of SIBO, you have 3 pillars:
- Symptoms (bloated and tired after eating, fluctuating greasy sticky stools)
- SIBO breath test (see Biovis)
- Indications in the faeces analysis, namely an increased PH, low amount of lactobacilli and/or enterococci, increased zonulin, a lot of fat in the stool.
Featured
The treatment of SIBO can be challenging, complaints are sometimes difficult to treat and often recur. And standard probiotics often have the opposite effect. Strains that usually have a better effect are the bacillus strains (spore formers), the Saccharomyces boulardii and the Enterococcus faecium. The prebiotic PHGG is one of the few fibers that is usually well tolerated. By filling in the advice help and giving it a high score at SIBO, these ingredients often come to the fore.
In addition, every patient has their own health problems and complaints, and it is important to include them in the approach, in order to maximize the chance of success. It is also important to look for the cause of the complaints, because if this can be removed, you increase the chance of recovery. In this case, the cause was the course of antibiotics, a one-off severe disturbance, so after restoring the balance in the microbiome, the symptoms stayed away. But the causes of SIBO can be very diverse. In addition to the MyOwnBlend, you can of course give additional advice:
- Not eating too many times in a day (intermittent fasting)
- Restrict carbohydrates / limit fodmaps
- Digestive enzymes, herbs such as Berberine, and very important: possibly. supplement deficiencies caused by digestive problems (e.g. B12).
Response from attending physician Karin Pijper
What makes this such an impressive case for me is that she was already doing everything right (no stress, sufficient exercise, healthy food), but after those antibiotics she was so disrupted. And that she did nothing else in the treatment than take the MyOwnBlend, which also made her symptoms disappear in a very short time. Not only her intestinal complaints, but also her fatigue and skin complaints. And it has helped me to recognize SIBO images better.