composition of gut bacteria Archives - Amazing Health Advances

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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Fascinating NEW Research Reveals Improving Gut Bacteria May Help You Lose Weight

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 08:00:23 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Have you ever seen “those people,” the type who seem to lose weight with virtually no real effort on their part? They cut back a few calories, and the weight just seems to melt away. They make it look so easy, right? Well, while some have that annoyingly almost magic metabolism, for the rest of us, there are other things at play that can work for just about anyone – and it focuses on the type of bacteria residing in the gut. Research published by the American Society for Microbiology shows that the type of gut microbiome a person has in their body significantly impacts their ability to lose weight. Certain compositions of microbiome can help weight loss, or it can cause resistance to losing weight. This opens up new possibilities for achieving more effective weight loss by altering the gut microbiome. Differences in Microbiome Composition May Explain Why Some Lose Weight Faster Than Others, Study Finds The study spanned a year and followed individuals who participated in a wellness program that incorporated both advice from a nurse or dietitian and lifestyle coaching. The participants provided the results from various medical testing such as blood collection, stool collection, data from dietary food frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric data. This was done through self-reporting by online assessment, anonymous data collected from authorized sources, or the Fitbit Aria scale. Researchers then analyzed the collected information with a focus on the 15 participants who experienced the most significant reduction in weight and the 10 participants who lost the least amount of weight. The finding showed that the participants who lost the most weight experienced an increase in certain gut microbiomegenes that are integral in aiding the growth of bacteria and its ability to multiply and assemble cell walls. The team specifically focused on the higher growth rates of Bacteroidetes and how they affect weight. Participants who lost the most weight had higher Bacteroidetes growth rates and more of the genes, while the participants who did not lose as much weight had lower Bacteroidetes growth rates and fewer of those specific genes. New Research Shines a Light on Gut Bacteria-Weight Loss Connection The researchers theorize that gut bacteria growing slower may give the body more time to absorb sugar from foods consumed. By contrast, gut bacteria that grows faster may limit the time the body is exposed to or has access to the sugar from foods consumed, so it has less time to absorb it. Doctors and researchers have long been aware that obese people have a different composition of gut bacteria than people who are not obese. Still, this study provides insight into the specific set of genes encoded in the gut bacteria that responds to interventions designed to bring about weight loss. The gut microbiome is a significant factor in the modulation of the success of weight-loss interventions. This study is just the beginning of ongoing research that fosters a deeper understanding of weight loss, obesity, and gut health. With this new research shedding light on how gut bacteria might influence a person’s attempts to lose weight, there’s more to come. The next steps are to explore further how lifestyle interacts with the gut microbiota to help people lose weight. This could include developing probiotics that help prevent weight gain while promoting gut health. One thing is for sure, scientists are paving the way for a better understanding of managing the obesity epidemic as well as improving overall health and wellness. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com Journals.ASM.org To read the original article click here.

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