ACEND

Why Gut Health Is the Cornerstone of Disease Prevention

ACEND helps with gut health and reduction of chronic inflammation

ACEND helps with gut health and reduction of chronic inflammation 

May 15, 2025. 
Contributing Authors: Team TRILITY / ACEND

In recent years, gut health has gone from a fringe interest to a central focus in both scientific research and clinical nutrition. No longer viewed as just a digestive concern, the gut is now recognized as a command center for the body’s most critical systems — from immunity and metabolism to brain function and chronic disease resistance. Emerging research continues to affirm what ancient healing systems long suspected: when the gut is out of balance, the entire body suffers.

At ACEND, we believe that optimal gut health is foundational to disease prevention and long-term wellness. This article explores the science behind the gut’s pivotal role in regulating inflammation and chronic disease and explains how drug-free therapeutics like ACEND target the microbiome to help restore systemic health.

The Gut: More Than Just Digestion

The human gastrointestinal tract is home to an estimated 100 trillion microbes, collectively known as the gut microbiota. These bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms help digest food, synthesize vitamins, protect against pathogens, and most importantly — regulate inflammation and immune response. Scientists now refer to the gut as the body’s “second brain,” owing to its complex neural network and constant communication with the central nervous system via the gut-brain axis.

Key Gut Functions That Impact Disease Prevention:

  • Immune modulation: Over 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

  • Inflammatory signaling: Gut microbes regulate cytokines, prostaglandins, and other markers of inflammation.

  • Metabolic control: The gut microbiome influences insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and energy balance.

  • Neurotransmitter production: Up to 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, impacting mood and cognition.

The Gut-Inflammation Connection

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is now recognized as a driving force behind most modern diseases — including type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, IBD, and autoimmune conditions. When the gut microbiota becomes imbalanced (a condition called dysbiosis), it can trigger increased intestinal permeability, often referred to as “leaky gut.”

This allows lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and other bacterial endotoxins to enter the bloodstream, stimulating a systemic immune response and perpetuating inflammation throughout the body.

Key Inflammatory Biomarkers Affected by Gut Health:

  • C-reactive protein (CRP)

  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)

  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

  • NF-κB pathway activation

By restoring microbial diversity and improving gut barrier integrity, these markers can be significantly reduced — leading to widespread improvements in inflammatory conditions.

Gut Health and Specific Diseases

Here’s how gut health intersects with several major chronic diseases:

1. Autoimmune Diseases

Conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have all been linked to dysbiosis and impaired gut barrier function. Research shows that modifying the gut microbiome can reduce autoantibody production and flare frequency.

2. Neurodegenerative Disorders

The gut-brain axis plays a critical role in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Studies show microbial metabolites (like short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan derivatives) directly affect amyloid plaque formation, microglial activation, and blood-brain barrier permeability.

3. Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes

An unhealthy microbiome contributes to insulin resistance, glucose dysregulation, and fat accumulation. Modulating the gut flora improves HbA1c levels and lipid profiles.

4. Mood Disorders

Depression and anxiety are now recognized as being partially rooted in gut inflammation. Dysbiosis alters neurotransmitter synthesis and increases neuroinflammatory markers.

ACEND: A Medical Food That Starts with the Gut

Unlike pharmaceuticals that target symptoms or supplements that provide generic nutrient support, ACEND is a medical food designed for the dietary management of chronic inflammation and gut barrier dysfunction.

Its science-backed formulation includes ingredients that work synergistically to:

  • Rebalance microbiota (LactoSpore® Bacillus coagulans, organic acacia gum)

  • Support intestinal barrier integrity (quercetin dihydrate, zinc citrate, N-acetyl cysteine)

  • Modulate inflammatory pathways (luteolin, curcumin, green tea epicatechin)

  • Enhance short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production through microbial metabolism of prebiotics and polyphenols

These ingredients have been selected not just for their direct actions but also for their ability to be biotransformed by gut bacteria into highly bioactive metabolites — amplifying their therapeutic effects.

Gut-Derived Metabolites: Hidden Allies in Healing

Polyphenols and other compounds in ACEND are metabolized by gut microbes into smaller, bioavailable forms. For example:

  • Quercetin → Dihydroquercetin (taxifolin)

  • Epicatechin → Valerolactones

  • Luteolin → Luteolin-glucuronide (BBB-penetrant)

  • Curcumin → Tetrahydrocurcumin (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant)

These metabolites are not just more absorbable — they also cross biological barriers and modulate inflammation at distant sites, including the brain and joints.

Is Your Gut Microbiome in Trouble?

Signs your gut health may be compromised:

  • Frequent bloating, gas, or irregular stools

  • Brain fog, fatigue, or mood swings

  • Chronic joint or muscle pain

  • Frequent infections or slow wound healing

  • Skin conditions like eczema or rosacea

How to Protect and Restore Gut Health

In addition to taking targeted medical foods like ACEND, gut health can be improved by:

  • Eating a diverse, fiber-rich diet

  • Avoiding excessive antibiotics and processed foods

  • Managing stress (which alters gut permeability)

  • Getting adequate sleep

  • Consuming fermented foods or probiotics when appropriate

So, Why Is Gut Health the Cornerstone of Disease Prevention?

Because the gut is not only the gateway for nutrients but also the conductor of immune, metabolic, and neurological harmony. When the microbiome is nourished and diverse, and the gut lining is strong, the body is equipped to fight disease, recover from illness, and maintain equilibrium across all systems.

ACEND works to restore this harmony by targeting the root: the gut. And in doing so, it helps turn off the chronic inflammatory signals that drive disease forward.

Want to Learn More?
Read our article: Microbiome, Mitochondria, and Chronic Inflammation: The Hidden Trifecta

References

  1. Valdes, A. M., et al. (2018). Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. BMJ, 361, k2179. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2179

  2. Tilg, H., & Moschen, A. R. (2014). Microbiota and diabetes: an evolving relationship. Gut, 63(9), 1513–1521. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2014-306928

  3. Cryan, J. F., et al. (2019). The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Physiological Reviews, 99(4), 1877–2013. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00018.2018

  4. Belkaid, Y., & Hand, T. W. (2014). Role of the microbiota in immunity and inflammation. Cell, 157(1), 121–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011

  5. Leclercq, S., et al. (2017). Low-dose penicillin in early life induces long-term changes in murine gut microbiota, brain cytokines and behavior. Nature Communications, 8, 15062. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15062

Note: Always consult with a healthcare professional before considering any treatment options or significant dietary changes.