Microbiome and Gut Health
Thanks to modern research, there are now valuable insights into certain correlations between imbalances and digestive system complaints. In this context, the gut microbiome in particular is being scientifically investigated in studies, as normal digestion is hardly possible without it.
Humans and their gut microbiome as a super-organism
The totality of those microorganisms located in the intestine is referred to as the intestinal flora or “intestinal microbiome.” In the digestive system, it is primarily the large intestine that is most densely populated by microbial inhabitants. Just as every fingerprint is individual and unique, so is the microbiome in the gut.
In this sense, every person possesses a characteristic bacterial profile of the gut, which is also referred to as a “microbial fingerprint.”
The microbiome is not innate; rather, it only develops after birth in the previously sterile intestinal tract. How the personal gut microbiome develops depends in particular on diet, but also on lifestyle and various environmental conditions. The intestinal flora or gut microbiome can sometimes react very sensitively to certain behaviors and dietary habits that are not gut-friendly.
How is the microbiome related to health and disease?
As already mentioned, the development of the human microbiome depends on numerous factors. Even the type of birth—whether natural birth or C-section—plays a role. Reactions to food and illnesses in early childhood, as well as living conditions in adulthood, are also formative.
Over the course of a lifetime, the composition of the microbiome can change frequently. The older one gets, the slower this change occurs. The gut microbiome in advanced age, in particular, differs from that of young people. In old age, the microbiome exhibits a lower abundance of different microorganisms and therefore also possesses a lower immune defense, making older people more susceptible to diseases and infections.
Three functions of the microbiome for our health:
- Digestion
- The immune system
- and inflammation
Irritable bowel syndrome, for example, shows that an altered microbiota can promote inflammatory reactions. Studies on chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis prove that patients with these diseases have a reduced diversity of gut microbiota.
From this, the scientific insight is derived that a delicate balance between tolerance and defense exists between the bacteria of the gut and the cells of the intestinal mucosa. A disruption of this balance can contribute to various diseases.
The gut microbiome is also what you eat.
Meanwhile, the sequencing of the gut microbiome enables an understanding of the connections between clinical pictures and the gut—for example, when a harmful bacterium prevails in the gut due to an incorrect diet. Insufficient rehabilitation after antibiotic therapy can also be a trigger for numerous complaints, as antibiotics kill not only bad but also good bacteria. Furthermore, the latest scientifically sound studies show that neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s could also be related to the microbiome in the gut.
Of good and bad microorganisms
Most microorganisms in the microbiome are useful or harmless to humans. These also form the vast majority in the intestinal area and therefore play an important role in health and disease. However, there are also less beneficial bacteria in the body. The well-known E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli), for instance. They are, among other things, the cause of gastrointestinal complaints in the form of diarrhea. Fortunately, there are very few bacteria that can become life-threatening, such as “Bacillus anthracis,” which is known and feared as the causative agent of anthrax.
What role does the gut microbiome play in diseases?
Every person possesses an individual gut microbiome, which can change differently in the event of diseases of the digestive system. Research has now established a link between the gut microbiome and obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, and cancer.
However, it remained scientifically unclear to what extent an altered microbiome is the cause or the consequence of one of the listed diseases. Overall, however, significant progress in the research of the human microbiome is recognizable. Numerous research groups worldwide are working on decoding the microbiome in order to decipher the complex microorganism in the gut.
You can best support your gut microbiome with the right diet.
Health-promoting probiotics are found in dairy products such as yogurt or buttermilk, and also in the popular sauerkraut. These are viable microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria or yeasts, which are digested by the body and strengthen the balance of the intestinal flora.
Prebiotics are found in many types of fruit and vegetables.
In contrast to digestible probiotics, these are non-digestible dietary fibers, such as the plant substances inulin or oligofructose. Bananas, chicory, onions, or garlic are particularly rich in prebiotics. If you consume several portions of vegetables and fruit daily as juice, soup, or a side dish, you ensure that you consume the recommended 5 grams of prebiotics.
To strengthen your gut health
Roleca® Pharma offers you well-tolerated help in restoring the balance of your intestinal flora or for the general promotion of your gut health. Whether with herbal medicines or synthetic medical devices – as individual as your own microbiome. To the products from Roleca® Pharma
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