Tag

Microbiome

All articles tagged with #microbiome

science2 days ago•9 min saved

Gut CNMa Rewires Cravings: Protein Over Sweets

A new study reveals a two-track gut-brain signaling system: gut cells release CNMa in response to protein deficiency, triggering a fast neural alert to the brain and a slower hormonal signal that sustains a protein-seeking appetite while suppressing sugar cravings by dampening DH44 sugar neurons; gut microbes modulate this pathway and the mechanism is conserved in mice, independent of FGF21, suggesting novel targets for obesity and eating disorders.

via Neuroscience News|

#cnma #essential-amino-acids #gut-brain-axis

health3 days ago•5 min saved

Sugar Substitutes: Short-Term Wins, Long-Term Risks

Germany’s debate on a sugar tax notes that replacing sugar with sweeteners can reduce calories in the short term, but long-term effects on weight, metabolism, the gut microbiome, and cardiovascular health are unclear. Some substitutes may alter the microbiome or promote metabolic changes, and erythritol has been linked to higher cardiovascular risk in some studies. Stevia shows a comparatively favorable profile, but robust long-term data are lacking. The article urges tempering sweetener use, focusing on gradual sugar reduction, and prioritizing whole fruits and natural foods over sugary substitutes.

via Medscape|

#cardiovascular #health #metabolism

science8 days ago•5 min saved

Living Location Alters Aging Pace, Global Study Finds

A world-spanning study profiled 322 people from Europe, East Asia, and South Asia, analyzing DNA, proteins, fats, gut bacteria, immune markers, and metabolites. It found that ancestry provides a baseline for immunity, metabolism, and the microbiome, but where people live also reshapes aging trajectories—different populations show distinct aging patterns when relocated. East Asians outside their region aged biologically faster; Europeans aged more in Europe; gut microbes linked to sphingolipids were tied to telomere maintenance. The work underscores that precision medicine must account for both genetics and environment, and is published in Cell (2026).

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #environment #genetics

animals9 days ago•36 min saved

Why some people are mosquito magnets, and what science now explains

A new review compiles years of work showing mosquitoes locate humans via chemical cues: CO2 in breath guides them from afar, then skin-emitted compounds like carboxylic acids (and related molecules such as 1-octen-3-ol) attract them up close; the skin microbiome and certain pathogens can tilt the balance toward more bites, informing potential repellents and skin-microbiome approaches to reduce transmission risk.

via Earth.com|

#animals #carbon-dioxide #carboxylic-acids

science10 days ago•6 min saved

Coffee's real driver? Gut microbes shaping mood and memory, not caffeine

A May 2026 Nature Communications study from APC Microbiome Ireland found that coffee—caffeinated or decaffeinated—modulates the gut microbiome and downstream brain signals via the gut-brain axis. Decaf coffee improved learning and memory, while caffeinated coffee reduced anxiety and boosted attention; effects persisted only with ongoing coffee consumption and disappeared during abstinence. The results point to polyphenols and other non-caffeine compounds as the cognitive drivers, underscoring that coffee rituals may influence brain health through microbiome-mediated pathways rather than caffeine alone.

via Space Daily|

#coffee #cognition #gut-brain-axis

health11 days ago•22 min saved

MS patient credits diet-based regimen with reversing disability, fueling debate on functional medicine

Terry Wahls, a physician diagnosed with MS, says a paleo-style diet, targeted supplements, exercise, and other lifestyle changes reversed her disability, propelling her into a central role in the functional medicine movement. The piece traces her decline under conventional MS therapies, her self-directed diet-and-lifestyle approach (the Wahls Protocol), and small studies noting fatigue and functional improvements, while noting that larger, rigorous trials are limited and critics warn against overinterpreting limited data or conflating correlation with causation. It also explores the broader commercial and clinical debate over root-cause therapies, microbiome testing, and the balance between innovation and evidence.

via Straight Arrow News - SAN|

#clinical-trials #diet-and-nutrition #functional-medicine

science23 days ago•5 min saved

Bioengineered Gum Targets Cancer-Linked Oral Microbes

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a bioengineered chewing gum based on lablab bean gum that carries antiviral FRIL and antimicrobial protegrin. In ex vivo studies with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, the gum extracts reduced cancer-associated microbes—HPV by up to 93% in saliva and 80% in oral rinse—and, with protegrin, brought the harmful bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum close to zero while preserving beneficial oral bacteria. The findings suggest a low-cost, accessible adjuvant or preventive therapy that could complement existing treatments or help prevent infection and transmission to curb oral cancer progression, with results published in Scientific Reports.

via SciTechDaily|

#bioengineered-gum #head-and-neck-cancer #hpv

science24 days ago•38 min saved

Two aging milestones revealed: the body shifts at 44 and 60, study finds

A Stanford-led study of 108 participants aged 25–75 found that aging is marked by two sharp molecular and microbial shifts, occurring precisely at ages 44 and 60. About 81% of the molecules analyzed changed in these windows, affecting cardiovascular and immune-system pathways and suggesting midlife is a critical period for aging. Researchers note lifestyle and genetics may influence these shifts and advise adopting healthier habits in one's 40s and 60s.

via Earth.com|

#aging #biomarkers #microbiome

health28 days ago•6 min saved

From mouth to stomach: study finds oral bacteria tied to gastric cancer risk

A cross-sectional study in Cell Reports Medicine links mouth bacteria to gastric cancer risk, finding 28 gut species shared with oral bacteria in saliva and stool and more common in gastric cancer patients. The results suggest mouth-to-gut transmission and potential saliva-based signals for early detection, but they cannot prove causation and require further research before clinical use.

via Fox News|

#gastric-cancer #health #microbiome

health1 month ago•23 min saved

Gut signals could flag Parkinson's risk years before symptoms

University College London researchers identified a gut microbiome signature linked to Parkinson's disease risk, especially in people with the GBA1 variant, suggesting a stool test could detect the disease well before tremors emerge and that diet and gut health may modulate risk.

via New York Post|

#early-detection #genetics #gut-health

health1 month ago•22 min saved

Brewing up a gut-brain link: coffee may shift gut bacteria and mood

A small study of 62 participants found habitual coffee drinking alters gut microbiota and is associated with mood and cognitive effects: caffeinated coffee linked to lower anxiety and improved focus, while decaf correlated with better learning and episodic memory; non-caffeine components like polyphenols may drive these benefits. The study compared three-to-five cup daily drinkers to non-drinkers and relied on self-reported data, noting the results are limited by small sample size and potential dietary confounds. Findings were published in Nature Communications.

via New York Post|

#brain-health #coffee #gut-health

science1 month ago•38 min saved

Mud, moss and learning: Finland's biodiverse playgrounds boost children's immune development

Finland's two-year study across 43 daycare centers swapped artificial surfaces for natural materials (soil, sand, moss, forest floor) in about 75 children, finding fewer disease-associated skin bacteria like Streptococcus, gut microbiome shifts linked to reduced inflammation, and increased immune-regulating T cells—suggesting daily exposure to environmental microbes may strengthen early immune development.

via Yahoo Creators|

#biodiversity #finland #immune-system

science1 month ago•38 min saved

Birth order may influence autism and allergy risk, study finds

A large preprint study of over 10 million individuals across more than five million families found firstborns are more likely to be diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, as well as allergies, while second-borns show higher rates of substance-use disorders, shingles, and gastrointestinal issues. Smaller age gaps between siblings appear protective against allergies and asthma, possibly due to increased microbial exposure, per the hygiene hypothesis. Limitations include reliance on insurance claims data and lack of uninsured populations; results have not yet undergone peer review.

via Yahoo|

#adhd #allergies #autism

science1 month ago•11 min saved

Gibraltar macaques use soil to dodge junk-food bellyache

Researchers documented soil-eating (geophagy) in Barbary macaques around Gibraltar, noting more soil consumption in groups that eat more human snacks like chocolate and ice cream. The behavior may help buffer stomach upset and potentially microbiome disruption from junk food, could be socially learned, and varied by group with some having no access to human food. More research is needed to understand the gut-related benefits.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#geophagy #gibraltar #junk-food

nutrition1 month ago•22 min saved

Protecting your gut on antibiotics: a dietitian's practical plan

After a course of antibiotics upset her gut, the author spoke with registered dietitian Avery Zenker, who says antibiotic effects on the gut vary by drug and person. To support recovery, prioritize hydration, a varied, fiber-rich diet, and prebiotic foods (like oats, bananas, garlic, apples, legumes). Limit fried foods, sugar, alcohol, and highly acidic or spicy items if symptoms occur. Probiotics aren’t guaranteed to help and aren’t always necessary; treat gut health during and after antibiotics like any other day, increasing fiber gradually and checking with a doctor about any interactions.

via Fit&Well|

#antibiotics #fiber #gut-health