Gut Microbiota and Human Health

Scientists are finding that the gut microbiota may be linked to heart health, some cancers, and even the colour of urine.

Gut Microbiota

The human gut microbiota refers to the trillions of microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, that live in the human gut.

• Previously, people referred to the gut microbiota as the microflora of the gut.
• The gut microbiome is the environment they live in.
• Establishment of the human gut microbiota:
  • Infants inherit their first gut microbes during vaginal delivery or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). 
  • Later, your diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to your biome.

The gut microbiota assists in a range of bodily functions, including:

• • harvesting energy from digested food
  • protecting against pathogens
  • regulating immune function
  • strengthening the biochemical barriers of the gut and intestine

Changes in microbiota composition can affect these functions.

Disease:

• • While there are beneficial bacteria in the gut, there are also harmful bacteria that can enter the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract and cause infection.
  • These infections include food poisoning and other GI diseases that result in diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Research suggests that bacterial populations in the GI system play a role in developing gut conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Low microbial diversity in the gut also has links to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • The status of the gut microbiota also has links to metabolic syndrome.
  • Disturbing the microbiota with antibiotics can also lead to disease, including infections that become resistant to antibiotics.

Crohn’s disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. It can affect any part of your digestive tract, which runs from your mouth to your anus. But it usually affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine.Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).