bacteria in the gut Archives - Amazing Health Advances

The “Shadow Organ” Often Ignored by Western Medicine, Lifesaving News

The AHA! Team — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 06:12:12 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Whether you are fat or thin may be a family trait, but not just through the inheritance of poor eating habits and a tradition of second helpings. Before you jump to conclusions, this isn’t your typical story about genetics. If you want to avoid degenerative diseases, I suggest you read this lifesaving news about a “shadow organ” often ignored by Western medicine. Recent research highlights that your gut microbiome – the trillions of microorganisms living in your digestive tract – plays a pivotal role in determining body weight and overall health. A study published in Current Gastroenterology Reports explores how gut bacteria, influenced by genetics and lifestyle, are key contributors to obesity and obesity-related disorders. But here’s the good news: gut microbiota can be modulated. Nonetheless, this isn’t a free pass to skip healthy eating, though. The food you consume directly influences which genes are turned on or off, shaping your gut microbiome and metabolic health. By taking charge of your diet and gut health, you can rewrite the script for your well-being, regardless of genetic predisposition. Conventionally trained physicians need to learn more about the lifesaving value of gut bacteria Known collectively as the microbiome, these trillions of live bacteria found in the human body influence everything from your immune system to your likelihood of developing chronic degenerative disease. These families of bacteria weigh about four pounds and actually outnumber the amount of cells in the body. The size and weighty influence of these collective bacteria are so significant that some scientists have begun thinking of the microbiome as a “shadow organ” of the human body. With advanced gene technologies being developed, this extra organ is getting greater attention from scientists worldwide. New study: How genes are connected to obesity In one study, scientists from Cornell University joined with researchers at King’s College London to sequence genes of microbes derived from more than 1,000 fecal samples of over 400 pairs of twins. Twins were used in the research because of their similar gene makeup. Scientists found that identical twins, whose genes are 100 percent the same, shared greater numbers of specific microbial families in the intestinal tract compared with non-identical twins, who share only half their genes. These findings provide clear evidence that genes are a major determining factor in the composition of the gut’s microbial makeup. This microbial composition can influence a host of health factors, including digestion, metabolism and even mood, as well as act as a cause of obesity. In their published findings, the scientists conclude that identifying bacterial families more prevalent among thin people could hold the key to customized probiotic treatments that exploit healthy traits and lead to weight loss. Emerging weight loss treatment plans When transplanted into mice, those microbes found predominantly in thin people were found to actually slow weight gain, suggesting that identification of the exact genetic composition of gut bacteria could hold the key to future weight loss treatments. Exploiting health-related bacteria families may, one day, be as common of an approach to wellness as exercise and a healthy diet. These genetic findings may also change how the medical community and the general population approach issues of obesity. More than one-third of United States adults are obese This is truly exciting information – when you consider the fact that more than one-third of United States adults are obese, and millions suffer from obesity-related conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and many forms of cancer – which lead to premature death. Hopefully, with the help of independent scientists and holistically-minded educators, we’ll achieve critical mass (soon) about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and implementing safer solutions for the obesity crisis before it’s too late for our society. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Cell.com MedicalDaily.com Cornell.edu AnnualReviews.org To read the original article click here.

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Oral-Gut Axis: How Mouth Bacteria Impact Your Overall Health

The AHA! Team — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:38:47 +0000

Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc. via News-Medical – A new study found that the prevalence of nicotine pouch use was low in U.S. adults despite a 641% increase in sales of the products between 2019 and 2022. A recent review in the journal Nature Reviews Microbiology explored the interactions between the oral and gut microbiomes and their collective effect on human health. Authors Jack A. Gilbert of the University of California San Diego and Erica M. Hartmann of Northwestern University found that while oral microorganisms may enter the gastrointestinal tract and contribute to gut dysbiosis, the mechanisms and broader implications of these interactions require further study. The importance of the gut microbiome The human body hosts a vast diversity of microorganisms that play a vital role in health by supporting the immune system and defending against pathogens. However, they may also contribute to chronic diseases. Dysbiosis, or disruptions in these microbial communities, is linked to metabolic and autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal issues. The gut and oral cavity are two key areas with dense microbial populations. The oral microbiome is influenced by food and environment and has been linked to oral diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, affecting systemic health by influencing microbial populations in the digestive and respiratory systems. The gut microbiome, shaped by genetics, diet, and lifestyle, is crucial for immune responses and infection prevention. Understanding the interactions between the gut and oral microbiomes is necessary for grasping their impact on diseases like colorectal cancer (CRC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The oral cavity is a gateway The gastrointestinal tract begins at the mouth and extends to the anus, including organs like the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The oral cavity, highly vascularized and home to diverse microbial communities, serves as the primary entry point for microbes into the body. It hosts over 770 bacterial species in different microenvironments, such as the buccal mucosa, tongue, and dental plaques. Key genera include Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Prevotella. The gut microbiome, primarily anaerobic and comprising species like Bacteroides and Ruminococcus, shares some taxa with the oral cavity, but distinct physical and chemical barriers usually prevent oral microbes from colonizing the gut. However, under conditions like low gastric acidity or antibiotic use, oral bacteria can migrate to the gut, potentially contributing to diseases. Understanding this oral-gut microbial transfer is crucial for exploring its role in disease and health. The mouth-gut connection The oral cavity, susceptible to conditions like dental caries, oral cancers, and periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis), plays a significant role in overall health. Periodontal diseases involve the destruction of tissues around the teeth due to an inflammatory response to plaque and microbes. Gingivitis, a reversible inflammation of the gums, can progress to periodontitis if untreated, causing deeper tissue damage and bone loss. Research suggests a strong link between oral health and gut diseases. Periodontal pathogens, such as P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, can migrate from the mouth to the gut, contributing to conditions like IBD. These bacteria promote inflammation and disrupt the gut’s microbial balance. Studies have found higher levels of oral bacteria in the guts of individuals with IBD, indicating the mouth-gut axis’s role in these diseases. Additionally, the oral microbiome has been associated with CRC. Oral bacteria like F. nucleatum can influence tumor growth and treatment resistance in CRC. This connection underscores the importance of oral health in preventing and managing systemic diseases. Understanding these links can lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for gut diseases and cancers. Oral health and overall health Poor oral health, especially periodontitis, can significantly impact the entire body. Oral bacteria can travel through the gastrointestinal tract and bloodstream, contributing to various diseases. Periodontitis causes low-grade systemic inflammation, which can disrupt the body’s health and promote diseases like IBD and cardiovascular diseases. It increases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood, indicating an ongoing inflammatory response. One mechanism through which oral health affects the body is through the bone marrow, where inflammation from periodontitis boosts the production of immune cells, leading to heightened inflammatory responses elsewhere. Another mechanism involves periodontal bacteria directly affecting distant organs by releasing toxins that promote inflammation and diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. Additionally, oral health impacts the gut directly. Bacteria from the mouth can colonize the gut, exacerbating conditions like IBD. Treating periodontal disease can reduce systemic inflammation and improve chronic disease symptoms, demonstrating the bidirectional relationship between oral health and systemic diseases. Addressing oral health is thus crucial for overall health and managing systemic conditions. Conclusions Changes in oral bacteria can affect gut health, leading to systemic inflammation and various diseases. The relationship between the oral cavity and gut is bidirectional, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. More research is needed to understand how oral bacteria influence chronic diseases and to develop better models for studying these interactions. Future studies should resolve the oral-gut microbiome axis at the strain level to confirm the role of oral bacteria in chronic diseases and examine the role of translocated strains in gut microbiome-linked diseases through in vivo and in vitro models. To read the original article click here.

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Gut Flora Disruption in Infancy Linked to Autism & ADHD

The AHA! Team — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:05:19 +0000

Linköping University via News-Medical – Disturbed gut flora during the first years of life is associated with diagnoses such as autism and ADHD later in life. This is according to a study led by researchers at the University of Florida and Linköping University and published in the journal Cell. The study is the first forward-looking, or prospective, study to examine gut flora composition and a large variety of other factors in infants, in relation to the development of the children’s nervous system. The researchers have found many biological markers that seem to be associated with future neurological development disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, communication disorder and intellectual disability. “The remarkable aspect of the work is that these biomarkers are found at birth in cord blood or in the child’s stool at one year of age over a decade prior to the diagnosis,” says Eric W Triplett, professor at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida, USA, one of the researchers who led the study. 16,000 children born in 1997-1999, representing the general population, have been followed from birth into their twenties The study is part of the ABIS (All Babies in Southeast Sweden) study led by Johnny Ludvigsson at Linköping University. More than 16,000 children born in 1997-1999, representing the general population, have been followed from birth into their twenties. Of these, 1,197 children, corresponding to 7.3 percent, have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, communication disorder or intellectual disability. A large number of lifestyle and environmental factors have been identified through surveys conducted on several occasions during the children’s upbringing. For some of the children, the researchers have analysed substances in umbilical cord blood and bacteria in their stool at the age of one. “We can see in the study that there are clear differences in the intestinal flora already during the first year of life between those who develop autism or ADHD and those who don’t. We’ve found associations with some factors that affect gut bacteria, such as antibiotic treatment during the child’s first year, which is linked to an increased risk of these diseases,” says Johnny Ludvigsson, senior professor at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at Linköping University, who led the study together with Eric W. Triplett. Children who had repeated ear infections during their first year of life had an increased risk of being diagnosed with a developmental neurological disorder later in life. It is probably not the infection itself that is the culprit, but the researchers suspect a link to antibiotic treatment. They found that the presence of Citrobacter bacteria or the absence of Coprococcus bacteria increased the risk of future diagnosis. One possible explanation may be that antibiotic treatment has disturbed the composition of the gut flora One possible explanation may be that antibiotic treatment has disturbed the composition of the gut flora in a way that contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders. The risk of antibiotic treatment damaging the gut flora and increasing the risk of diseases linked to the immune system, such as type 1 diabetes and childhood rheumatism, has been shown in previous studies. “Coprococcus and Akkermansia muciniphila have potential protective effects. These bacteria were correlated with important substances in the stool, such as vitamin B and precursors to neurotransmitters which play vital roles orchestrating signaling in the brain. Overall, we saw deficits in these bacteria in children who later received a developmental neurological diagnosis.” -Angelica Ahrens, Assistant Scientist in Eric Triplett’s research group at the University of Florida and first author of the study The present study also confirms that the risk of developmental neurological diagnosis in the child increases if the parents smoke. Conversely, breastfeeding has a protective effect, according to the study. In cord blood taken at the birth of children, the researchers analysed the amounts of various substances from the body’s metabolism, such as fatty acids and amino acids. They also measured some harmful substances that come from outside, such as nicotine and environmental toxins. They compared substances in the umbilical cord blood of 27 children diagnosed with autism with the same number of children without a diagnosis. Children who were later diagnosed had low levels of several important fats in the umbilical cord blood It turned out that children who were later diagnosed had low levels of several important fats in the umbilical cord blood. One of these was linolenic acid, which is needed for the formation of omega 3 fatty acids that are anti-inflammatory and have several other effects in the brain. The same group also had higher levels than the control group of a PFAS substance, a group of substances used as flame retardants and shown to negatively affect the immune system in several different ways. PFAS substances can enter the body via drinking water, food and the air we breathe. It is not certain that the relationships that the research team found in the Swedish children can be generalised to other populations, but these issues need to be studied in other groups as well. Another question is whether gut flora imbalance is a triggering factor or whether it has occurred as a result of underlying factors, such as diet or antibiotics. However, even when the researchers accounted for risk factors that might affect the gut flora, they found that the link between future diagnosis remained for many of the bacteria. This indicates that some of the differences in gut flora between children with and without future diagnosis are not explained by such risk factors. The research is at an early stage and more studies are needed, but the discovery that many biomarkers for future developmental neurological disorders can be observed at an early age opens up the possibility of developing screening protocols and preventive measures in the long term. The study has been funded with support from, among others, JDRF, Horizon Europe, Barndiabetesfonden (the Swedish Child Diabetes Foundation), Forte and the Swedish Research Council. Source: Linköping University Journal reference: Ahrens, A. P., et al. (2024). Infant microbes and metabolites point to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.035. To read the original article click here.

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Why You Should “Trust Your Gut” — Your Second Brain

AHA Publisher — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 08:00:40 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? Well, it turns out you may want to pay attention to that feeling because researchers now consider the gut to be the “second brain” of the human body! It turns out there are more than 100 million neurons in your intestinal system. Referred to as the “enteric nervous system,” this brain in the gut acts very similarly to the brain in the head. The gut can receive impulses, record experiences, and respond to emotions. The Micro-Biome and Neurotransmitters The 100 million neurons in the gut interact with chemicals that control their function called neurotransmitters. It turns out that a large portion of the neurotransmitters in the body are produced by bacteria in the gut! These bacteria make up what is called the micro-biome. This refers to the ecosystem of bacteria in your gut. The micro-biome is responsible for creating up to 90% of the body’s serotonin and about 50% of the body’s dopamine. Moreover, the intestines produce and co-regulate 30 other neurotransmitters that are utilized by the central nervous system to regulate mood, stress levels, sleep patterns, mental functioning and a number of other essential body processes. Obviously, the second brain is responsible for much more than just digestion. So maybe those gut feelings actually are giving you some valuable information! However, the true nature of this incredibly complex system is still under research. Your Gut Affects Your Mind A study published in Gastroenterology showed that women who were given probiotic yogurt twice a day for 4 weeks had a calmer and more controlled reaction when shown images of various facial expressions. The bacteria in the yogurt included Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains which are found in Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Biotics Ultra Blend Probiotics formula. Other research in mice has correlated certain strains of gut bacteria with anxiety. Mice specifically raised to have no bacteria in their gut were inoculated with bacteria from the guts of anxious mice. The inoculated mice then proceeded to exhibit anxious behavior. This has huge implications in how powerfully the bacteria in our gut can affect how we feel. Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Mind If you or your loved ones suffer from mental disorders such as anxiety or depression, then this research is incredibly promising. By taking steps to balance and improve the health of your gut you can make positive changes in how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Here are a few tips to help you heal your gut: Reduce Your Added Sugar Intake – Pathogenic bacteria thrive on high sugar diets Eat More Fermented Foods – This includes sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, kvass, and raw cheese. Use a High Quality Probiotic – Living Probiotic, Living Chia, and Fermented Green Supremefood are all good options. Eat More Healthy Fats – Coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and Maximum MCT Oil all help subdue pathogenic bacteria. Eat your fats away from your probiotics so that you do not kill off the good guys! Implementing these simple changes will help balance the bacterial diversity in your gut making you more mentally and physically resilient so that the next time you get a “gut feeling” you will know that you can trust it! More and more, science is proving that a healthy digestive system is the key to a healthy brain and body—and the power to keep your gut healthy lies directly with you! Get Dr. Colbert’s Healthy Gut Zone book today to help you understand the connection between your gut and your health. You will learn that whatever inflames your gut will eventually inflame your brain and the rest of your body. Making the right food choices will become the medicine in which you will walk and live in divine health. References https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/06/gut-bacteria-on-the-brain/395918/ http://www.psyking.net/id36.htm https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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