Characterizing the gastric microbiota

The human stomach has its own microbiota, but it receives less scientific attention than the intestines -- perhaps because acidic conditions, peristalsis, and the gastric mucus layer interfere with bacterial colonization. Nevertheless, characterizing the healthy gastric microbiota may be important

The human stomach has its own microbiota, but it receives less scientific attention than the intestines — perhaps because acidic conditions, peristalsis, and the gastric mucus layer interfere with bacterial colonization. Nevertheless, characterizing the healthy gastric microbiota may be important for helping assess the future risk of gastric disease.

In this systematic review, the authors say researchers have detected five major phyla in the healthy human stomach: Firmicutes, Bacteroidites, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria. The dominant genera are Prevotella, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Rothia and Haemophilus. As in the rest of the digestive tract, there is evidence that gastric microbiota composition can be affected by factors such as diet, drugs, and certain diseases.

For decades, scientists have debated how to interpret data on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric disease. This review discusses evidence that an individual’s pre-existing gastric microbiota may interact with H. pylori to contribute to the risk of gastric cancer and other diseases. Maintaining bacterial homeostasis could be vital to stomach health.

Reference:

Nardone G & Compare D. (2015) The human gastric microbiota: Is it time to rethink the pathogenesis of stomach diseases? United European Gastroenterology Journal DOI: 10.1177/2050640614566846

Paul Enck

Prof. Dr. Paul Enck, Director of Research, Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. His main interests are gut functions in health and disease, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders, the role of the gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake and its disorders, of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 170 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, and more than 250 book chapters and review articles. He is board member/treasurer of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and has served as reviewer for many international journals and grant agencies.