After two decades of scientific exploration, the human microbiome has emerged as a critical determinant of health and disease. Fueled by multi-omics technologies and machine learning, the field has advanced from correlation-based observations to establishing causal relationships. This article presents recent and compelling examples of microbiome-based treatments that are ripe for clinical adoption and discusses challenges and opportunities facing the field based on expert interviews conducted by the GMFH team.
What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut: the gut-organ axes at work
25 Jun 2025by GMFH Editing Team
Emerging studies support the relationship between the human gut microbiome and organ function outside the gut. Find out more about the knowns and unknowns on how the gut communicates with other parts of the body, involving the gut, the brain, the lungs, the skin, and even the heart, and why it matters to your health.
Microbes living in your digestive tract may help you achieve or maintain a healthy body weight by influencing your food intake behaviors. This article delves into what scientists know and do not know about gut microbiota and obesity and provides science-backed tools for leveraging the microbes in your gut to achieve a healthier body weight.
Clinical translation of microbiome research: takeaways from the 2025 GMFH Summit
16 May 2025by Andreu Prados
The 13th Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit took place 15-16 March 2025 in Washington, D.C., and it focused on advances in microbiome research to diagnose, prevent, and manage gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal conditions. Find out more about the most valuable takeaways from the event.
Best practices for designing better clinical trials of probiotics and prebiotics
27 Mar 2025by Andreu Prados
Diet can impact the efficacy of prebiotics and probiotics. A new perspective article in Nature Microbiology makes 10 recommendations for designing, conducting, and reporting clinical trials of prebiotics and probiotics that support best practices in microbiome research.
People eating a mixed diet with animal foods share gut bacteria with vegans and vegetarians, a new study found
21 Jan 2025by Andreu Prados
The composition of the gut microbiome depends mainly on diet. A new study sheds light on the most beneficial diet for your gut – and it may have to do with the food quality and diversity you consume rather than whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore diet.
While gut health and the microbiome have captured the attention of both researchers and the lay public, there is a gulf between popular media claims about gut health and the actual science. We spoke to Kristina Campbell, a microbiome science writer, about her new book on the subject called “Gut Health for Dummies”.
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut are dietary staples for many cultures worldwide. Now scientists understand better how eating these foods as part of a balanced diet may contribute to improving gut health.
Diets for irritable bowel syndrome: what you need to know
20 Dec 2023by 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.
Dietary fibers, known to regulate intestinal inflammation and gut barrier functions, have been avoided by patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to avoid flare-ups. However, recent findings suggest that if fiber type, patient immunological condition, and the fermentative ability of the gut microbiota are taken into account, they could be beneficial and prevent relapses.
