The Sociability Project

I recently formed a 501(c)3 tax-exempt research entity called the Natural Biosciences Research Foundation to help fund research into health questions not typically addressed by the pharmaceutical industry, the federal government, National Institutes of Health (NIH), most doctors, the healthcare industry—organizations and people more interested in personal financial gain than genuine health answers. I spent almost two years, for instance, trying to obtain federal funding for research projects. Discussing my efforts with NIH scientists, I was repeatedly asked: “What is your phase 1 clinical trial?” “Phase 1” refers to the sequence of studies required for the commercialization of pharmaceuticals: phase 1, phase 2, phase 3. When I responded by telling them that, because I was not trying to commercialize a drug, there were no such trial phases, just clinical trials meant to provide answers to health questions involving nutrients and the microbiome. I encountered—from well-informed PhD scientists—confusion: “I don’t understand: You need a phase 1 trial.” It became clear that federal funding was designed to (not by the original Congressional approval of such funding, but by the scientists charged with sharing such funding) support the development of pharmaceuticals, not non-drug answers to pressing health questions. It should come as no surprise that, although, the wealth of knowledge supporting natural efforts in health is growing, it is growing slowly. To that end, the Natural Biosciences Research Foundation hopes to contribute to uncovering better solutions, developing answers to common health questions that do NOT lead to pharmaceuticals or medical procedures.

One of the priorities of the Foundation is to expand on understanding the social and emotional implications experienced in the presence of low levels of oxytocin and improvements experienced with restoration of the lost gastroinestinal microbe, Lactobacillus (Limosilactobacillus) reuteri, L. reuteri. The original evidence from the elegant animal studies conducted at MIT, demonstrated greater than 300% increase in blood levels of the hormone oxytocin. Forty years of research into the effects of oxytocin tell us that, from the perspective of human social behavior, an increase in oxytocin can be expected to cause us to experience:

• Increased sociability—i.e., the need and ability to interact favorably with other people.
• Increased desire for human companion ship—causing you to be closer to loved ones, better tolerating the quirks and irritations of other people such as coworkers
• Increased intensity of love and affection
• Increased empathy—The ability to understand someone else’s point of view..
• Increased acceptance of the opinions of others
• Increased generosity—Dr. Paul Zak of Claremont Graduate University Los Angeles, has conducted many clinical trials in which generosity was measured before and after (intranasal) oxytocin; participants showed more generous behavior after oxytocin administrtion.
• Reduced social anxiety—Anxiety experienced in social situations such as group meetings, work gatherings, even large family or social gatherings can bring on crippling anxiety in some people. Such people, rather than enjoying the situation, experience dread, uncertainty, fear of criticism.

Of course, the above develops in our present time with record levels of social isolation (50% of adults report frequently feeling lonely; many teenagers report having no real friends), record suicide (increased 36% between 2000 and 2022, according to the CDC), high divorce rates, and the sharp increase in narcissistic behavior.

In an effort to better quantify and characterize the changes in behavior that can arise with an increase in oxytocin, all clinical trials to be funded by the Natural Biosciences Research Foundation will include psychological profiling of participants. We hope to show that social and emotional behaviors are measurably improved with this specific manipulation of the gastrointestinal microbiome. While we begin with L. reuteri, there are numerous additional questions that require answers. Consider:

• Are there other microbial species that either combine with the effects of L. reuteri through “collaborative” metabolic cross-feeding effects, colonization effectiveness, bacteriocin-producing effects that further amplify social and emotional benefits?
   
• Are there non-microbial factors that further amplify social and emotional benefits, e.g., endocannabinoids that govern the integrity of the intestinal mucus barrier?
   
• Can suicidal ideation and suicide attempts be reduced by addressing oxytocin levels?
   
• Does the lack of oxytocin play a role in violence, hatred, racism, marital struggles, and other adverse human behaviors?
   
• What role does small intestinal dysbiosis (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth of Proteobacterial species) and thereby endotoxemia play in cultivating undesirable human social behavior? (My prediction: Endotoxemia plays a huge role, a phenomenon that can be corrected.)

In other words, this effort that I sometimes call “The Sociability Project” is not just about exploring the physical or, say, anti-aging consequences of this micribial manipulation; it is also about understanding the root causes of disrupted human behavior and ways to address it in ways that make us better human beings. We are making progress in reaching our financial goals for funding. Make your tax-deductible donations to the Natural Biosciences Research Foundation here.

The original IHB post is currently found on the: ⎆Infinite Health Blog, but accessing it there can require an unnecessary separate blog membership. The copy of it above is complete, and has been re-curated and enhanced for the Inner Circle membership.