To soothe skin itching and eczema, target the gut-skin axis: test your blood TMAO levels, consume foods rich in polyphenols (berries, pomegranate, green tea) as well as 30 different plants per week to nourish the intestinal bacterium Akkermansia, and consider a prebiotic supplement protocol.

noli's read

The study published in the scientific journal *Immunity* provides fascinating preclinical (in animal models) and observational (in humans) evidence regarding communication between our gut and skin sensitivity. It reveals that a decrease in the intestinal bacterium *Akkermansia* promotes an increase in a compound called TMAO, which is associated with skin reactions. Nourishing this microbiota with polyphenols and diversifying plant intake is an excellent wellness practice, widely supported by observational data on general health. However, proposing a blood TMAO test to manage eczema is currently an extrapolation, as we lack randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrating that directly acting on this marker relieves the skin. Finally, the efficacy of the promoted supplement is based on a laboratory model simulating digestion (*in vitro*), which constitutes an encouraging step but does not replace clinical validation in humans.

the sources

1. 1McDonald D et al. (American Gut Project) 2018
2. 2Reynolds A et al. 2019