Category : Gut Microbiota

The administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is an important risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the Western world. Recent research has suggested that probiotics may help reduce the incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) among children and adults in both hospital and outpatient settings. A new systematic review and meta-analysis, led by Dr. Bradley Johnston from Dealhousie University (Canada),…

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.

The administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is an important risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the Western world. Recent research has suggested that probiotics may help reduce the incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) among children and adults in both hospital and outpatient settings. A new systematic review and meta-analysis, led by Dr. Bradley Johnston from Dealhousie University (Canada),…

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.

On June 5-7, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) convened its annual meeting, for the first time in Asia. The program featured two days of open plenary sessions attended by 230 academic and industry scientists, health professionals, and regulatory representatives. A third day of discussion groups was held for invited experts and Industry Advisory Committee members, while…

Mary Ellen Sanders
Mary Ellen Sanders is a consultant in the area of probiotic microbiology, with special expertise on paths to scientific substantiation of probiotic product label claims. Dr. Sanders served as the founding president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) and is currently the organization’s Director of Scientific Affairs/ Executive Officer. This international, non-profit association of academic and industrial scientists is dedicated to advancing the science of probiotics and prebiotics (www.isapp.net). Through numerous written, oral and video pieces, including a website, www.usprobiotics.org, she strives to provide objective, evidence-based information on probiotics for consumers and professionals. Key activities include: Panels to determine GRAS status of probiotic strains ; member of the American Gastroenterological Association Scientific Advisory Board for AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education ; World Gastroenterology Organisation Committee preparing practice guidelines for the use of probiotics and prebiotics for GI indications (2008, 2011, 2014) ; working group convened by the FAO/WHO that developed guidelines for probiotics (2002).

On June 5-7, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) convened its annual meeting, for the first time in Asia. The program featured two days of open plenary sessions attended by 230 academic and industry scientists, health professionals, and regulatory representatives. A third day of discussion groups was held for invited experts and Industry Advisory Committee members, while…

Mary Ellen Sanders
Mary Ellen Sanders is a consultant in the area of probiotic microbiology, with special expertise on paths to scientific substantiation of probiotic product label claims. Dr. Sanders served as the founding president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) and is currently the organization’s Director of Scientific Affairs/ Executive Officer. This international, non-profit association of academic and industrial scientists is dedicated to advancing the science of probiotics and prebiotics (www.isapp.net). Through numerous written, oral and video pieces, including a website, www.usprobiotics.org, she strives to provide objective, evidence-based information on probiotics for consumers and professionals. Key activities include: Panels to determine GRAS status of probiotic strains ; member of the American Gastroenterological Association Scientific Advisory Board for AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education ; World Gastroenterology Organisation Committee preparing practice guidelines for the use of probiotics and prebiotics for GI indications (2008, 2011, 2014) ; working group convened by the FAO/WHO that developed guidelines for probiotics (2002).

While changes in the human gut microbiome's composition and function have been related to several diseases and types of medication, variability between studies limits the comparing of findings. Another factor that limits our understanding of how disease-medication interactions have an impact on gut microbiota is the fact that the gut microbiome has been studied in relation to single diseases without…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

While changes in the human gut microbiome's composition and function have been related to several diseases and types of medication, variability between studies limits the comparing of findings. Another factor that limits our understanding of how disease-medication interactions have an impact on gut microbiota is the fact that the gut microbiome has been studied in relation to single diseases without…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

The fact that healthy relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing IBD and display mucosal microbiota dysbiosis indicates that both genetic background and alterations of the gut microbiome might trigger disease phenotype. A study, led by Prof. Kevin Whelan from the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London (United Kingdom),…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

The fact that healthy relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing IBD and display mucosal microbiota dysbiosis indicates that both genetic background and alterations of the gut microbiome might trigger disease phenotype. A study, led by Prof. Kevin Whelan from the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London (United Kingdom),…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota may affect host physiology both directly and indirectly. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and a precursor to several such metabolites. Tryptamine is important example of a bacterially-produced, tryptophan-derived metabolite with previously unknown functions in the gastrointestinal tract. A new study, published in Cell Host & Microbe and led by Dr. Purna C. Kashyap…

Megan Mouw
Megan Mouw holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from McGill University (Canada). Driven by her experiences at UCSF medical center in San Francisco, Megan is passionate about the role that the gut microbiota plays in maintaining health and wellness. She is currently perusing graduate studies in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Santa Cruz and hopes to share her love of science through writing.

Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota may affect host physiology both directly and indirectly. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and a precursor to several such metabolites. Tryptamine is important example of a bacterially-produced, tryptophan-derived metabolite with previously unknown functions in the gastrointestinal tract. A new study, published in Cell Host & Microbe and led by Dr. Purna C. Kashyap…

Megan Mouw
Megan Mouw holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from McGill University (Canada). Driven by her experiences at UCSF medical center in San Francisco, Megan is passionate about the role that the gut microbiota plays in maintaining health and wellness. She is currently perusing graduate studies in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Santa Cruz and hopes to share her love of science through writing.

Recent research has found that the gut microbiota may play an important role not only in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but also the therapeutic actions of the widely prescribed antidiabetic drug metformin. Although dietary fiber has documented effects on preventing T2DM and improving glucose metabolism in diabetic individuals, little is known about whether prebiotics could have…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Recent research has found that the gut microbiota may play an important role not only in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but also the therapeutic actions of the widely prescribed antidiabetic drug metformin. Although dietary fiber has documented effects on preventing T2DM and improving glucose metabolism in diabetic individuals, little is known about whether prebiotics could have…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

According to many scientific studies, having a balanced gut microbiota is essential for gut health. Just like a big city, where the whole community works together to make the place work, our gut is populated by trillions of microbes that help us live a healthy life. “We have a lot of bacteria in our body and the reason they are…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

According to many scientific studies, having a balanced gut microbiota is essential for gut health. Just like a big city, where the whole community works together to make the place work, our gut is populated by trillions of microbes that help us live a healthy life. “We have a lot of bacteria in our body and the reason they are…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Hepatic steatosis is a multifactorial condition related to obesity that may contribute to the development of virus-associated and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans, in which patients usually start to show symptoms when the disease is in its advanced stages. Although the gut microbiome has recently evolved as a new and important player in the pathophysiology of liver diseases,…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Hepatic steatosis is a multifactorial condition related to obesity that may contribute to the development of virus-associated and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans, in which patients usually start to show symptoms when the disease is in its advanced stages. Although the gut microbiome has recently evolved as a new and important player in the pathophysiology of liver diseases,…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Arterial stiffness—defined as the reduced capability of an artery to expand and contract in response to pressure changes—has been previously reported as an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with metabolic syndrome. However, it is poorly associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity and smoking. Furthermore, we do not know whether gut microbiome…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Arterial stiffness—defined as the reduced capability of an artery to expand and contract in response to pressure changes—has been previously reported as an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with metabolic syndrome. However, it is poorly associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity and smoking. Furthermore, we do not know whether gut microbiome…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

One of the strategies used by vertebrate hosts to defend against bacterial pathogens is that of sequestering transition metals required for intracellular and extracellular pathogen survival. This process is called “nutritional immunity” and, in response, bacteria have evolved strategies to access metals and counteract this host mechanism of defense. A new review, led by Dr. Christopher Lopez and Prof. Eric…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

One of the strategies used by vertebrate hosts to defend against bacterial pathogens is that of sequestering transition metals required for intracellular and extracellular pathogen survival. This process is called “nutritional immunity” and, in response, bacteria have evolved strategies to access metals and counteract this host mechanism of defense. A new review, led by Dr. Christopher Lopez and Prof. Eric…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados