We have a real jungle in the colon!

13 Mar 2024

by Cristina Sáez

The bacteria that make up our gut microbiota lead a very active social life: they communicate and collaborate with each other, but also compete and keep each other in check. To a great extent, our health depends on this communication between them and with our cells. Hence, understanding how they relate to each other will be key to advancing toward the personalized medicine of the future.

Gut fungi have effects beyond the gut through the gut-brain axis

14 Feb 2024

by Rene van den Wijngaard, Andreu Prados

Most research on the role of gut microbiota in the gut-brain axis has focused on bacteria, while fungi living inside the gut have been overlooked. What do we know about the role of gut fungi in the communication between the gut and the brain?

The low amount of bacteria from the gut microbiota able to process bilirubin, a product of heme degradation, during the neonatal period of life suggests a strong connection between the microbiome composition and development of jaundice in infants. In other words, the lack of certain bacteria in the gut of infants seems to be linked to the risk of developing jaundice.

Diets for irritable bowel syndrome: what you need to know

20 Dec 2023

by Andreu Prados, Kate Scarlata

Food is considered the main trigger of digestive symptoms in the vast majority of patients living with IBS. While finding foods that do not prompt gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms has been a challenge for many people with IBS, restrictive diets can come with potential risks. Learn more about diets with evidence in IBS.

An international team of scientists has studied diaper samples of nearly 650 healthy 1-year-old babies for 5 years and has discovered 10,000 species of viruses, most of them unknown until now. Far from causing children to be sick, those viruses are thought to be true allies, playing an important role in protecting us from chronic diseases.

Certainties and uncertainties of SIBO

26 Oct 2023

by Andreu Prados

While SIBO is not new, it has recently gained popularity on the internet and on social media as the result of a set of non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and even chronic fatigue. In this post, we will discuss what SIBO is and what it is not, its roots, symptoms, diagnosis, and management.

The human microbiome has captured the interest of both scientists and the lay public. A survey of 6,500 people worldwide shows a lack of understanding of the role of the microbiome on health and an essential role of healthcare professionals in promoting advice to balance the microbiome.

The microorganisms that live in and on our body have been implicated in a variety of health functions and diseases. Two microbiologists comment on certain common assumptions about the human microbiota, including that it weighs 2 kg and is altered in case of obesity.

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