I definitely need to update this post with my latest experience on the Nemechek Protocol. It’s been such a blessing! I’m just now on full doses of everything (about 5 months into it), and I’m finally seeing a turning point. It’s really hard to explain, but I feel like my brain fog is dissipating. I’m thinking more clearly, I’m not having as hard a time finding words, anxiety is way better, etc. With the gut in such a fragile state, Nemechek believes digestive enzymes could do more harm than good. I don’t necessarily agree with that, but again, this is one aspect you need to do your homework on and determine what will be best for you. My Experience on the Nemechek Protocol Information on SHANK3 was curated from the peer-reviewed scientific literature to determine the function of both the gene and the effect the particular single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) found in these cases creates. The Nemechek Protocol involves the administering of fish oil, extra virgin olive oil, and the prebiotic inulin (in older patients, inulin is replaced with Rifaximin, a prescription antibiotic). Dr. Nemechek uses these to reduce gut inflammation, restore omega 3:6 balances, and aid in cellular repair.

The HLA-DQ2.5 variant has a conformation that leads to an increased immunological response to the presentation of gluten peptides. This is associated with an increased risk of developing celiac disease [ 62]. But there’s also hope for those of us battling SIBO, as this protocol focuses on restoring bacterial balance. I hope this information helped you a bit today. Have a question? Ask it in the comments, and I’ll be sure to answer! Updated Dr. Nemechek Protocol review It’s funny. I remember reading testimonials from others who were 6 months to a year into it and thinking:

Nemechek’s Recommended Supplements and Their Dosages

I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Nemechek’s opinion that the vast majority of supplements are a waste of money. With little to no regulation, the supplement industry can be extremely dishonest and scammy.

If you can give me just a few more minutes of your time, I’d love to share this information with you, and you can do with it what you will. California Olive Ranch is the brand Dr. Nemechek approves, and the one that I use, although there are others approved by COOC.

8 Month Update: Continuing the Fight Against SIBO

This bacterial overgrowth damages the intestinal wall, releasing a substance called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into our tissue. When our white blood cells notice the LPS, they react by releasing highly inflammatory cytokines into the blood.

I mentioned in the previous update that I was considering switching to the NOW fish oil, and I did. It didn’t make me nauseous at all, and I’m getting higher doses of EPA, so it’s a win! Rather than working directly to increase levels of SHANK3 protein or affect stability, oxytocin is one such molecule that appears to work on downstream pathways such as long-term potentiation [ 35]. Increasing long-term potentiation (LTP) in multiple areas of the brain, including the hippocampus, has been shown to stimulate dendrite maturation and connectivity [ 36]. Decreased dendrite maturation is one of the possible downstream issues in individuals with SHANK3 deficiencies [ 9]. Due to its effects on LTP and its differential expression in the brain, oxytocin was also shown to decrease LTP-mediated pain hypersensitivity, often seen in individuals with ASD [ 36, 37]. While the full scope of this variant’s effects is not currently elucidated, it is associated with decreased glutathione synthesis. Therefore, it is likely a mechanism in which the enzymatic activity of GCLC is affected [ 60]. While the field of genomically targeted personalized medicine is still in its infancy, the implications for specifying recommendations for nutrients, supplements, lifestyle, and even medications down to the individual level have the potential to change how medicine is practiced and improve patient outcomes.So what he is saying is that you can add to your diet, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Omega 3 and Prebiotic - all of these things are natural. EVOO is medically proven to lower inflammation and good for general health, Omega 3 is proven for brain health and is naturally occuring in salmon - i do not like fish but I take Omega 3 to help my brain and prebiotics which is made from chicory. He is not asking you to take any of these things over the normal RDA.

This time, I didn’t see the stark, immediate gains I did last time. By day 10 of the meds (last day), my SIBO symptoms had only improved a little. It’s all a guessing game, but I suspect some sort of food poisoning with that salad ( I’m looking at you, romaine!). I usually belong to the camp that believes “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” But when I read Dr. Nemechek’s research and ideas behind the protocol for SIBO, it made total sense. The potential implications of modifying even just the trajectory of children with SHANK3 variants are significant. The presented case studies and the information gathered from the parents of children with ASD offer further insight. Naturally, genomic evaluation has shown the presence of the same SHANK3 variant discussed in this paper in many parents of affected children. In these parents, there is no evidence of intellectual disability or neurological concerns, despite this variant being purported to be associated with intellectual disability [ 6]. Some of these SHANK3-carrying individuals are successful physicians, Ph.D.’s, and lawyers. This supports the idea that this variant and many genetic contributing factors to ASD are modifiable and not pathogenic. This variant is associated with lower enzymatic activity, specificity for substrate, and thermal stability. This decreases the ability to conjugate reduced glutathione with toxins for removal [ 61].These are the questions I get asked the most. For people wondering what early autism signs we saw in Charlie, I wrote a blog post about autism signs in babies and toddlers . It’s a pretty complete list of symptoms and things to keep an eye on if you’re worried about your child’s development. Now that you know this - can we review that is wrong? I told my doctor about this and whilst she wasn't raving about it she also didn't tell me i should not add EVOO or stop giving him omega 3, why? because even normal vitamins for kids contain omega 3 and there is nothing wrong in taking them. Prebiotics are naturally occurring in things like porridge and bananas - so nothing weird here either. As for my food sensitivities, my lymph nodes still swell a little but NO where near as bad. That round of rifaximin was a game-changer for that, along with the severe bloating. I’m 2 months past just 1 round of it, and I’m still showing little to no signs of SIBO. I think hitting the full dose of EVOO and DHA is keeping the SIBO at bay as the autonomic nervous system heals. And yet, 8 months have flown by. Now I’m reaping the benefits so many others have experienced – benefits that I had previously only dreamed of.