It is largely recognized that a high-salt diet can lead to hypertension. A new randomized controlled trial reports that, particularly in females with untreated hypertension, reducing salt intake to recommended levels is linked to decreased blood pressure, more compliant blood vessels and increased serum levels of short-chain fatty acids.
Gut Microbiota Research & Practice is a section dedicated to promoting knowledge-sharing and debate among researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals. You will find a selection of discussions about articles from scientific literature as well as other content including interviews with experts, event reports, and special publications.
New research shows the keto diet, used to treat neurological and metabolic diseases, suppresses bifidobacteria and Th17 cells
15 Jun 2020by Andreu Prados
Could the keto diet’s therapeutic benefits be linked to changes in the gut microbiota? New work in mice and 17 men who are overweight or obese reveals ketone bodies exert suppression of bifidobacteria and intestinal pro-inflammatory Th17 cells.
Lactic acid bacteria in fermented foods can be transferred to the human gut
8 Jun 2020by GMFH Editing Team
Fermented foods are a known source of lactic acid bacteria. A high-throughput sequencing analysis of food and human metagenomes proves that fermented foods are a source of lactic acid bacteria for the gut microbiome, and that abundance is shaped by both age and lifestyle.
Gut microbiota alterations in obesity remain the subject of debate. Writing in Nature, Vieira-Silva and colleagues found that the undesirable Bacteroides 2 enterotype was more frequent in people with a higher body mass index, but not if they were taking statins.
Beyond digestive function: meal characteristics and individual responsiveness are major triggers of sensations related to food ingestion
25 May 2020by GMFH Editing Team
Foods are processed in the upper digestive tract and pass into the colon when entering the digestive system. A new paper outlines the impact of food consumption in shaping bidirectional communication between digestive responses and the digestive sensations occurring before, during and after a meal.
The last 9th Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit hold in Madrid on March updated the science behind diet, the balance between gut microbiota and the immune system, mental health, food intolerances and functional gut disorders, among others. Check out here the Summit’s official report.
Is gut microbiome-lung crosstalk worth considering during the current COVID-19 pandemic?
11 May 2020by Andreu Prados
While patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 typically present with a respiratory illness, certain patients also report gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of virus receptors in gastrointestinal epithelial cells and an altered gut microbiota composition in some patients might have implications for managing COVID-19.
Scientists re-classify the Lactobacillus genus into 25 genera including groups of closely related species
4 May 2020by Mary Ellen Sanders
More than 250 species have been assigned to the genus Lactobacillus in recent decades. Now, a group of 15 scientists from all over the world have reclassified the genus Lactobacillus into 25 genera, which include 23 novel genera.
Analysis of the fetal intestine suggests limited bacterial colonization with potential immunological functions
27 Apr 2020by Andreu Prados
Whether bacterial colonization starts in utero is still a matter for scientific debate. The study of the fetal intestinal content collected from terminated pregnancies reveals some evidence for early bacterial colonization linked to distinct immune imprinting.
Will gut microbiota provide the solution to all of our health problems?
23 Apr 2020by Patrice D. Cani
Gut microbiota, with its close links to metabolism and the immune system, could potentially be a factor that lies at the core of good health. This means it can be positioned at the heart of the processes that influence the risk of contracting different diseases.