All articles tagged with #gut microbiome
A large study using Estonian Biobank data shows that a wide range of medications—including antidepressants, beta-blockers, proton-pump inhibitors, and benzodiazepines—can cause enduring shifts in the gut microbiome that persist years after stopping them, suggesting past medication history can influence current microbiome profiles and should be accounted for in research and clinical interpretation.
A study links gut bacteria to muscle strength, with higher Roseburia inulinivorans levels associated with stronger grip and larger Type II muscle fibers in mice, suggesting the microbiome may influence energy use in muscles. Older adults had lower levels than younger ones, hinting at a potential route to preserve muscle function in ageing via probiotics or high-fiber diets, though human data are small and causality isn’t yet proven.
A NASA-backed Nature Communications study analyzed more than 400 blood samples from 52 astronauts who stayed on the International Space Station for 2+ months (2006–2018) and found microgravity slows gut movement and shifts gut bacteria to ferment protein more than usual, helping explain space constipation. While dietary changes (caffeine, fish, fat) influence metabolites, microgravity is the main driver; the resulting protein‑fermentation byproducts may be linked to kidney stress, mood changes, and gut inflammation—risks that could grow on longer missions to Mars. Researchers suggest countermeasures like higher‑fiber diets, probiotics, or ways to boost peristalsis, noting the findings could also illuminate bed‑rest effects on Earth.
Researchers at the University of Louisville found that urolithin A (UroA), a microbe-produced metabolite from ellagitannins in berries, pomegranates, and walnuts, activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor specifically in intestinal epithelial cells, engaging a controlled NLRP6 inflammasome–driven repair program that strengthens the gut barrier and mucus defenses. Demonstrated in cell models, organoids, and human IBD tissue, the work suggests a path to more targeted therapies that restore intestinal balance rather than broadly suppressing immunity. However, UroA production varies among individuals based on gut microbiota, so future approaches may need to tailor diets or microbiome interventions rather than simply advising berry-rich foods.
A new review finds that dietary fiber may affect organs beyond the gut—supporting heart health, liver fat processing, and kidney function—and possibly influencing mood and sleep through gut microbes that produce short-chain fatty acids, though much evidence is observational and fiber intake in most people remains below recommended levels.
A study of 488 plasma samples from 52 astronauts on the ISS shows microgravity slows food transit through the gut, prompting gut bacteria to ferment proteins more than usual and producing metabolites that enter the bloodstream. The effect starts within weeks in space and largely reverses after returning to Earth. Findings suggest dietary fiber or slowly fermented carbohydrates could counteract the change for long-duration missions and also offer insights into Earth-based digestive health; published in Nature Communications.
New studies connect Parkinson's progression to gut microbiome disruptions, notably fewer bacteria that produce B vitamins riboflavin (B2) and biotin (B7), which may weaken the intestinal barrier and fuel brain inflammation via alpha-synuclein. Small fecal microbiota transplant trials in Belgium and China show motor and gastrointestinal improvements, with a larger Chinese trial confirming donor transplants can yield meaningful benefits. The findings point to riboflavin/biotin supplementation and gut microbiome modulation as potential therapies, but results require further validation in bigger trials.
A new study identifies imidazole propionate (ImP), a metabolite produced by certain gut bacteria, as a potential link between the microbiome and Alzheimer's disease by weakening the blood-brain barrier and promoting amyloid beta plaques and tau changes. In humans, higher ImP levels correlate with faster cognitive decline and elevated Alzheimer’s biomarkers; in mouse models, ImP worsens disease features. ImP-producing bacteria are present in many people but not highly abundant, and susceptibility depends on multiple factors. Targeting ImP or its production could become a therapeutic strategy rather than eliminating the bacteria.
Virginia Tech researchers show that bacteriophages lysing B12-producing bacteria release vitamin B12 into the surrounding environment, feeding neighboring microbes that cannot make enough B12 themselves and reshaping gut microbial communities by altering diversity and composition; the timing and location of B12 release matter, suggesting viruses act as nutrient recyclers in microbial ecosystems.
A small phase 1 trial suggests oral fecal microbiota transplantation from healthy donors may increase peanut tolerance in some adults with peanut allergy (6 of 15 participants across two stages). Safety was acceptable, and mouse studies supported a gut-bacteria–driven mechanism involving RORγt+ regulatory T cells and bile acid metabolites. While encouraging, results are preliminary and not ready for clinical use; researchers aim to develop purified microbiome therapies (MTT) and conduct larger trials over the coming years. In the meantime, standard care—strict avoidance and an emergency allergy plan—remains essential.
When dietary fiber runs low, gut microbes may degrade the gut’s mucus lining and produce harmful phenol metabolites; however, indigestible plant proteins (Prif) along with fiber shift microbial metabolism toward beneficial phenols, while host metabolism can also generate many indole and phenol metabolites, suggesting diet- and metabolism-based strategies to modulate gut biochemistry and health.
A Cambridge study tested 39 sweeteners against 25 gut bacteria and found that roughly 75% affected at least one strain; mixing sweeteners with common compounds (caffeine, vanillin, and the antidepressant duloxetine) produced over 100 new interactions, some disruptive, suggesting sugar substitutes can alter the gut microbiome and interact with medications; the WHO notes non-sugar sweeteners show no proven long-term weight‑loss benefits.
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel outlines four practical dietary changes to reduce chronic-disease risk: add fermented foods to nourish gut microbes, cut sugary soda to a minimum, limit ultra-processed snacks, and boost fiber intake with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans; he emphasizes sustainable lifestyle changes over obsessive health tracking and notes occasional treats are fine.
An immunologist says feeling like you’re “always sick” is deeply personal and may reflect an immune system that’s constantly challenged. He emphasizes starting with gut health, noting that the gut microbiome trains the immune system and that shifts in gut bacteria can influence how the body responds to infections. Improving gut health—through quality sleep, plenty of dietary fiber, probiotics, and mindful antibiotic use—may help reduce sickness frequency, though stress, diet, and rare hereditary factors can also play a role. Always discuss persistent illness with your healthcare provider.
In a phase 1, open-label trial at Boston Children’s Hospital, 15 adults with peanut allergies received fecal microbiota transplants to reset the gut microbiome. Ten participants received FMT capsules and five later got a transplant after antibiotics; about 40% achieved meaningful, durable increases in peanut tolerance (up to 300–600 mg, with one participant tolerating 1,043 mg) lasting at least four months. Side effects were minor and no major adverse events occurred. While promising, larger randomized trials are needed and FMT is not yet ready for clinical use; mouse studies suggested two Bacteroides species may drive the protective effect.