GUT HEALTH KNOWLEDGE CENTER

What is Prevotella copri? Prevotella copri is often found in non-western gut microbiomes, particularly those that consume increased levels of fibr. P. copri may be in the spotlight when it comes to inflammatory diseases but the good health giving properties must also be given the chance to shine. How about succinate? Let's see what exactly Prevotella copri can do to our gut community and our overall health?

In this article we are going to look at the association between HMOs and Akkermansia muciniphila,and the benefits of Akkermansia to human gut microbiome and gut health. The article will focus on the findings from a research study by Kostopoulos et al, (2020) to understand how this well-studied anaerobic bacterium interacts with human milk oligosaccharides (HMO’s) and help you understand how and why Akkermansia can utilize HMO as their energy source. 

Within the more than 40 observational studies conducted in humans to assess the relationship between type 2 diabetes and the microbiome, a few genera popped out as being the most significantly altered in patients with type 2 diabetes relative to healthy controls. Specifically, the following bacteria showed a negative association with type 2 diabetes, meaning that populations of these bacteria were diminished in the diabetic patients: Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, Rosburia. Read the article and find out what you can do to reduce the risk of getting diabetes. 

The development, regulation, and function of the immune system is now known to be inextricably linked to and dependent upon the presence of microorganisms with the ecosystem of the body. We will cover three primary focuses in this article: the effects of aging on the microbiome and the immune system; the impact of age-related shifts in microbiome structure on the health of the host; prebiotic and probiotic interventions geared towards prevent these age-related declines.

The microbiome is inextricably linked to the functioning of our bodies in both health and disease. A review hot off the press in the prestigious journal Science entitled “The microbiome and gut homeostasis” outlines the parameters that can be used to define dysbiosis and homeostasis when it comes to the microbiome by exploring the role of host physiology and metabolism in microbiota composition. 

Roseburiais a bacterial genus belonging to theFirmicutesphylum, which is known for its prolific butyrate-producing capabilities.

In the recent PREDICT program, researchers identified a particular strain,Roseburia sp. CAG: 182, to be one of the 15 ‘good’ gut microbes that are associated with good health outcomes.

The Veillonella genus is an interesting one, and many of its members have only recently been discovered. However, three strains have caught our eye because of their inclusion in the PREDICT 1 list of ‘good’ gut microbes. Each of them has interesting, potential health benefits, linked to insulin sensitivity and polyunsaturated fat levels.

But could it also be considered a performance-enhancing microbe, beneficial for athletes?

Although the human gut microbiome consists of more than 100 trillion microbes, two main phyla make it up:c andFirmicutes. TheFirmicutes phylum consists of over 200 different genera. In this article we discuss why they are considered to be "good". 

Haemophilus parainfluenzaeis an excellent example of how research constantly evolves and expands. Previous research has found that although this microbe is a common inhabitant of the mouth and throat, it has also been implicated in the development of bone and joint infections, and potentially promotes gut inflammation. Thus, classifying it as a pathogen.

However, more recent research from the PREDICT studies has found that H parainfluenzaemay have some health-promoting benefits.

There is currently little research available into the beneficial effects of Romboutsia ilealis, but it has been circled as one of the 15 good gut microbes by the PREDICT studies. The researchers state that people who had R. ilealis present in their gut had lower levels of inflammation and increased polyunsaturated fat levels.

A strong link has been observed between microbiome composition and obesity, autoimmunity, diabetes, and certain cancers, namely colorectal cancer. In the case of colorectal cancer, research implicates the gut microbiome not only in disease severity and rate of progression, but also in treatment efficacy.

A recent study published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine entitled “Microbiome and metabolome features of the cardiometabolic disease spectrum” characterized the microbiome signatures of healthy individuals, individuals with metabolic dysfunction, and individuals with overt cardiovascular disease. The microbiome signatures across groups are so striking that they may be even more effective clinically useful than the convention risk markers.

Oscillibacter sp. 57_20 is a member of the Firmicutes family and has been identified as one of the ‘good’ gut bugs in the PREDICT study series. Oscillibacter sp. 57_20 has only recently been discovered, so not much is known about it yet. That means there is a lot of information that scientists are yet to discover, and in the research world, that’s exciting stuff. 

Aside from the dramatic shifts that take place in the maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy, several factors render the gut vulnerable to dysbiosis as a result of poor diet, obesity, and stress. There are, however, positive steps that can be taken to improve gut health and avoid these potentially negative outcomes before and during pregnancy.

The oral microbiome is just as important to overall health as the gut microbiome. It’s also just as sensitive to changes in diet. Too much sugar can promote bad bacteria. The bacteria in the mouth are similar to those in the gut but tend to thrive in lower diversity. These include Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus.

We know for a fact that the gut microbiome contributes directly to human development and health. We are also certain that the microbiome can influence intellectual development. We aren’t completely sure how, though. We know certain bacteria produce certain chemicals that act as neurotransmitters and hormones that directly control brain signaling.

Much is made of the methods to improve adult gut health. But what about kids and teenagers? Improving the gut health of younger individuals is equally important. This article discusses ways to achieve that goal.

HMO stands for human milk oligosaccharides — a type of sugar abundant in human breast milk. This is a straightforward look at the 100 most common questions about Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO prebiotics) with brief but detailed answers. The goal is to help you quickly learn more about these fascinating and massively beneficial sugar molecules.

Can a synbiotic consisting of a combination of B. infantis and HMOs lead to the successful engraftment of B. infantis into the microbiome of healthy adults?

Your skin is your body’s biggest organ. It can weigh up to 8 pounds and can cover a surface of 22 square feet. It acts as a highly sensitive sensor, packed with nerves for translating information to the brain from the outside world. It is responsible for one of our most important senses: the sense of touch. In the past decade, so much attention has been given to holistic approaches to health and wellness, with growing interest in gut health. Questions are beginning to emerge regarding a link between the gut and skin.

E. eligens is part of the phylum known as Firmicutes. One of the jobs of this group of bacteria is to keep our colon healthy. They help to achieve this by producing butyrate which has numerous health benefits for humans. E. eligens has been identified by the PREDICT 1 study as one of the 15 important good bacteria. This article will look at the importance of E. eligens and how even if it may only be a small part of our gut ecosystem, without it, the puzzles will not be completed.

The constant communication between our guts and brains plays a role in the development of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, stress, and bipolar disorder. Studies on the gut-brain axis — and how to improve the function of both — are ever-growing, hopefully leading to potential clinical implications in the future. This connection is not just for people with poor mental health — probiotics may also maintain or enhance mood and reduce stress in healthy people.  

New scientific research is revealing that the gut microbiome may actually determine whether you even have a chance to lose weight. 

In this article we’ll explore how the microbiota influences weight loss, particularly in the context of diet and exercise. We’ll look at how the microbiota differs between healthy and obese individuals and discuss ways to shape the gut microbiota that can actually help with weight loss.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is part of a group of bacteria called Firmicutes and is a common inhabitant of the human gut. Researchers from ZOE have identified F prausnitzii as one of the 15 good gut microbes outlined in their study.

Because Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is so important for supporting your gut and general health, it is important to eat a healthy and diverse diet as well as make healthy lifestyle choices.

Microbial transplants are a common practice and are successful at treating, even reversing, a number of diseases and health issues. In this post, we’ll discuss the frontier of fecal microbial transplants – what they are, how they work, and why someone would do this.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and we’re only beginning to identify treatments. In this post we’ll explore how Alzheimer’s works. Then we’ll discuss the relationships between the microbiome and the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s, and how these gut bacteria may hold the key to the cure to diseases like Alzheimer’s.

The PREDICT series of studies, including PREDICT 1, is the largest, in-depth nutritional program in the world. The PREDICT 1 study helped to define links between a person’s diet, gut microbiome, and cardiometabolic health biomarkers from a cohort of 1100 participants. Learn more about how your genes, microbiome, and food interplay with each other and the surprising 15 most important bacteria in your gut.

Akkermansia are found in both the adult and infant gut. Interestingly, Akkermansia are present in colostrum and breast milk. Their consumption during infancy seeds the infant gut with these beneficial bugs. The presence of A. muciniphila in the adult gut is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease and protection against type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic, low grade inflammation. 

Short-chain fatty acids are made in the gut by the friendly bacteria that reside there. Your body isn’t equipped with the enzymes needed to digest dietary fibre, so your gut bacteria do it for you.

In this article, we explore the SCFAS and their benefits. 

Given the impact travel can have on the gut microbiome, focusing on practices to support gut health when traveling is important.

Consuming foods that can have a beneficial impact on gut health, being mindful of staying hydrated, and remaining cautious of food safety risks are all key steps you can take to care for your gut during travel. 

April is irritable bowel syndrome awareness month and has been since 1997 when the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders declared it so.

But what exactly does it mean?

Well, during the month of April more attention is given to the condition that affects approximately 11% of the world’s population[i]. In this article, we explore what IBS is, what causes it, how it can be treated, and of course, the link between IBS and the gut microbiome.

If we look closer at where immunity all began, we see that it started with mother's milk. One-third of mothers' milk is actually comprised of these specialized carbohydrates called Human Milk Oligosaccharides. There are hundreds of different strains of HMOs that exist, and as of right now, we are utilizing the safest and most effective strain, 2'-Fucosyllactose. It has been proven to be a gut health powerhouse and has been researched intensively.

Although there are probiotics on the market that contain Bifidobacteria, the most effective way to increase their levels in the gut is through the use of prebiotics, not probiotics. This is because, in order for bacteria to grow and stay in the gut long term, proper nutrients must be present to support their growth.

Moreover, most probiotics contain only a few billion organisms, which is a usually drop in the ocean compared to the total number of organisms in the gut.

One quality that does seem to be associated with a beneficial microbiota is microbial diversity. A healthy microbiome is akin to an old growth forest.

Currently, there are three HMOs available on the market for consumer use but several others will be emerging onto the market in the next few years. Not only will the availability of these products improve infant nutrition for babies that do not have access to breast milk, but they will also provide adults with more options for gut and immune health optimization and disease prevention.