New research has examined the effect of dietary quality on the composition of the colon’s microbiota. The study suggests that following a high quality diet may increase the number of beneficial bacteria, whereas following a low quality diet may raise that of harmful bacteria. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that half of our plates […]
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In this Spotlight feature, we investigate whether the bacteria that live in our guts could influence our blood pressure. If so, could they guide future treatment? Hypertension is growing in prevalence, but can we blame gut bacteria? Scientists are growing increasingly interested in the role of gut bacteria. Each week, journals publish many study papers […]
A team of researchers analyzed the potential side effects of a common blood pressure drug and found that it may increase the risk of a potentially severe bowel condition. Some hypertension drugs may raise the risk of certain gastrointestinal conditions, new research suggests. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, chronic heart […]
The theory that Parkinson’s disease can start in the gut has gained further support in a recent study in mice. Scientists prompted toxic protein to form in the gut and tracked each step of its journey to the brain via the vagus nerve. A new mouse model offers precious insights into how Parkinson’s affects the […]
New research reinforces the idea that the absence of certain bacteria in the gut can cause food allergy, a condition that affects millions of people. The study also suggests that replenishing key gut bacteria could offer a way to treat food allergy. New research suggests that food allergies, such as an allergy to peanuts, may […]
Recent research has revealed that gut microbes can alter how a medication works in our bodies, sometimes with undesirable — or even toxic — results. Our gut bacteria can influence the effectiveness of the drugs we take. A healthy human gut microbiome is made up of over 1,000 species of bacteria that work to help […]
The microbiome plays a vital role in health. A recent study has investigated how viruses that kill gut bacteria influence these microbes. The findings make an already complicated picture much more so. Bacteriophages (depicted here) are more numerous than bacteria. The microbiome is both fascinating and fashionable. The increase in public interest has provided a […]
Pooping regularly is a sign of a healthy digestive tract. Everyone’s bowel habits are slightly different, but going too long without pooping can be a sign of an underlying health condition that may require medical attention. There is no specific number of times a person should poop per day, since everyone’s bowel habits are different. […]
Some drugs work well for one person but are ineffective for another; some also produce adverse events for certain individuals but not others. A study, using human gut bacteria and a mouse model, investigates whether our gut bacteria might help explain why. Do the microbes in our intestines influence how well a drug will work? […]