The Gut Microbiome – Fad or The Future?
Which bacteria are colonising your gut is becoming increasingly important, Australian researchers say.
More and more evidence is suggesting the gut microbiota has a significant role in both the cause and the cure of a wide range of gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases and conditions.
According to a review in The Medical Journal of Australia, research shows that particular types of bacteria colonising the gut have been associated the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH), obesity and diabetes.
We know that the bowel starts to be colonised by bacteria in utero. The make-up of an individual’s gut microbiota then depends on factors such as mode of delivery, breast-feeding, diet, illness and exposure to antibiotics. By the age of three, the gut microbiota resembles that of an adult.
Observational studies have suggested a strong association between alterations in the ...
