The educational content in this post, elaborated in collaboration with Bromatech, was independently developed and approved by the GMFH publishing team and editorial board. Once thought to be sterile, the bladder contains microbes that could influence health Nowadays, it is quite interesting to see how omics sciences are advancing our knowledge; the molecular techniques of genomics, metagenomics, and proteomics can precisely determine the composition and diversity of the microbial communities that are present in various anatomical sites and can identify metabolites that are produced by microorg ..read more

The educational content in this post, elaborated in collaboration with Lesaffre, was independently developed and approved by the GMFH publishing team and editorial board. What role does gut microbiota play in healthy aging? Aging, defined as the progressive decline in physiological function and cellular integrity over time, is accompanied by an increased susceptibility to various diseases, including cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. As life expectancy rises globally, ensuring healthy aging has become an urgent concern. The aim is to maintain physical an ..read more

Do you remember that 1987 movie, “Innerspace“? In it, a pilot commands a miniaturized ship that, by mistake, travels through the body of a very hypochondriac man. Well, if we could, like that pilot, reduce ourselves to just a few millimeters, put on a safari hat, and travel equipped with an explorer’s kit to our intestine, we would discover that it is nothing like the gloomy place we might imagine, dark, where lonely, sad, and hungry bacteria huddle together. Far from it! We would discover that our colon is a real jungle where, instead of trees, insects, and animals, we mainly harbor bacteria ..read more

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting more than 30% of population. This type of steatosis is caused by factors other than excessive alcohol use and occurs alongside other metabolic disorders such as obesity. While early-stage MASLD does not usually cause any harm, it can lead to an increased risk of liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the exact cause of MASLD isn’t completely understood, recently an altered gut microbiome h ..read more

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 micr ..read more

The educational content in this post, elaborated in collaboration with Lesaffre, was independently developed and approved by the GMFH publishing team and editorial board. How our brain and our gut talk to each other The brain and gut are in constant communication with each other, which allows important body functions such as digestion and appetite to happen. The concept of the gut-brain axis dates back to the 19th and 20th centuries, with observations by Darwin, Beaumont and Cannon that the emotional state can affect the gut. With the recent understanding of the importance of the microbiota in ..read more

The educational content in this post, elaborated in collaboration with Lesaffre, was independently developed and approved by the GMFH publishing team and editorial board. Why gut fungi are essential for a healthy gut The gut microbiota is mainly composed by bacteria, but also includes archaea, viruses, fungi, protists, and helminths. While bacteria are the most abundant microorganisms, gut fungi also play an important role to help keep your gut microbiota healthy. The whole community of fungi residing in the gut and their genome is known as the gut mycobiome. Recent research has revealed that ..read more

As your knowledge about the gut microbiota grows, you may be aware that the gut microbiota is connected with multiple body organs such as the liver, forming the gut-liver axis. More particularly, the liver produces various molecules to help us digest, such as biliary acids, and the gut microbiota transforms them into different compounds that can be reabsorbed by the liver or excreted in the feces, playing an essential role in maintaining gut health. This is the case for bilirubin. You might have encountered the word ‘bilirubin’ in your blood analysis, but what does it stand for? The cells in o ..read more

The educational content in this post, elaborated in collaboration with Bromatech, was independently developed and approved by the GMFH publishing team and editorial board. The gut microbiota and the management of IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is recognized as a chronic, multifaceted disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), characterized by recurrent abdominal pain related to defecation and may be associated with changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation).1 The intestinal microbiota is suggested to be an underlying element explaining key pathophysiological alterations well describ ..read more

Bariatric surgery is currently one of the most effective interventions to treat obesity. The gut microbiome regulates host metabolism and adiposity and some researchers have shown that the surgically altered microbiome may contribute reducing adiposity in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Recent findings have also revealed a glycemic improvement of patients with type 2 diabetes after RYGB, while it is plausible that other mechanisms are involved in the weight loss. A new study, led by Dan Linetzky Waitzberg from Universidade de São Paulo, shows that reduced red meat intake, plasm ..read more