As in the beginning of every new year, it is time to look back at the latest scientific and medical advances in the gut microbiome arena during the past 12 months. The “Year at a Glance” document is now available and summarizes recent advances involving the microbiome in diagnosing, preventing, or managing gastrointestinal and systemic diseases.
The 2023 edition of “Year at a Glance” starts by focusing on the role of intestinal barrier dysfunction (inaccurately referred in the media as “leaky gut”) in gastrointestinal health and disease, with a particular attention to dietary patterns and microbial components with potential to have protective and detrimental effects on gut integrity.
A second section is devoted to the gut mycobiome and its relationship with host immune system and intestinal inflammation. The impact of fungi on human health has been under-studied and emerging evidence highlights that fungi are ubiquitous across all major human cancers and that certain mycobiome profiles can help predicting the survival of cancer. The potential opportunities to target the gut mycobiome and their interactions for therapeutic purposes are also discussed.
When it comes to the potential of leveraging the gut microbiome in the clinical setting, current and emerging human data highlight that diet is essential when it comes to managing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) alongside medications. In particular, dietary fiber recommendations have shifted from a nutrient to avoid in IBD to a nutrient that can fit within a diet of a person suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease as the proinflammatory effect of fiber depends on the fiber type, individual immune status, and the fermentative capacity of the gut microbiome.
Last, but not least, live biotherapeutics -defined probiotics and undefined fecal microbiota transplants (FMT)-are gaining interest in gastrointestinal conditions and vaginal health. One significant advance in the field was that the FDA approved the first microbiota product for oral administration to prevent recurring Clostridioides difficile infection in people who have had previous episodes. Even though clinical studies of FMT are progressing, there is a lack of understanding and predicting the efficacy of FMT and its benefits should be balanced with the risks (e.g., administering live microorganisms to patients with a compromised immune system).
Keep up to date with the most relevant research in gut microbiome by simply accessing our 2023 Year at a Glance report.
