Gut Microbiome - Importance and Effects on the Body

What Is the Gut Microbiome?

Microorganisms include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic living creatures from the gut microbiome. Trillions of these microbiomes exist mostly in the intestine and inside the skin. The caecum is the pocket in the large intestine that stores these microbes out of all the microorganisms inside the body. Bacteria are studied the most. It is a funny fact that bacterial cells are more in number than human body cells in the body. The body has approximately 40 trillion bacterial cells and only around 30 trillion human cells.

Why Is the Gut Microbiome Significant?

Most gut microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship with us, providing essential services in exchange for food and shelter. They help control harmful microbes. A healthy gut microbiome is like a thriving garden, crucial for well-being, while an imbalanced one disrupts health.

How Does Gut Microbiome Affect the Body?

• The gut microbiome starts affecting the body the moment an individual is born. The first exposure to microbes happens when an infant passes through the mother's birth canal. Even in the womb, the fetus may have some exposure to microbes.

• As the child grows, the gut microbiome starts diversification. High microbial diversity is very good for an individual's health.

• Digestion of Breast Milk: The bacteria that first begin to grow inside a baby's intestine are known as bifidobacteria. They help digest the healthy sugars in breast milk, which are important for the child's growth.

• Control Immune System: The gut microbes also regulate the immune system by communicating with the body's immune cells. They control the reaction of immune cells toward any infection or inflammation in the body.

• Digesting Fibers: Some bacteria help to digest fibers by producing short-chain fatty acids, which play an important role in gut health. These fibers may help to prevent diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss.

• Control Brain Health: Some research suggests that the gut microbiome also impacts brain functioning.

What Happens When the Gut Microbiome Is Decreased?

The condition in which gut microbes are decreased, leading to increased pro-inflammatory species in the body, is known as dysbiosis. The imbalance in microbial diversity can trigger inflammation and produce genotoxins and carcinogenic metabolites. It is also characterized by the impaired epithelial barrier and decreased regulatory T-cells in the gut mucosa. The symptoms include abdominal spasms, bloating, and dysplasia of the mucosal surface.

What Are the Different Types of Dysbiosis?

Types of Dysbiosis: There are three types of dysbiosis depending on the loss of microbiota:

• Type 1: Dysbiosis type is when good bacteria are lost from the gut.

• Type 2: Excessive growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach.

• Type 3: Dysbiosis in which both good and bad bacteria are lost from the gut microbiome diversity.

What Are the Causes of Decreased Gut Microbiome?

Any interruption in the balance of microbes can cause dysbiosis.

Some of the reasons behind this disbalance are:

• Increase in intake of sugar, protein, or food additives.

• Accidental consumption of some chemicals, such as pesticides, on unwashed fruits and vegetables.

• Administration of some antibiotics can affect the gut flora and cause imbalance.

• Weakening of immunity due to increased stress or anxiety.

• Excess consumption of alcoholic beverages.

• Poor dental hygiene can cause bacterial imbalance in the mouth.

• Exposure to harmful bacteria due to unprotected sex.

How Does the Gut Microbiome Affect Body Weight?

The intestines host thousands of different types of bacteria, most of which are beneficial for health. However, an excess of harmful microbes can lead to disease. An imbalance between healthy and unhealthy microbes, known as gut dysbiosis, can contribute to weight gain. Several well-known studies have shown that the gut microbiomes of identical twins can differ significantly, with one twin being obese while the other is not. This demonstrates that differences in the microbiome are not genetic. These studies indicate that microbiome dysbiosis may contribute to weight gain. Fortunately, probiotics support a healthy microbiome and can aid in weight loss. However, research suggests that the weight loss effects of probiotics are likely modest, with individuals losing less than 2.2 pounds (1 kg).

How Does the Gut Microbiome Affect the Heart?

The gut microbiome has many effects on the heart, including both good and bad. The good effect includes promoting good high-density lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The bad effects of the gut microbiome include the production of N-oxide (TMAO), which increases the risk of heart disease.

How Does Gut Microbiome Affect Brain Health?

The gut microbiome affects the health of the brain in two different ways:

• Some bacterial species help to produce chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. For example, serotonin is an antidepressant neurotransmitter that is produced in a maximum amount in the gut.

• The other way of affecting brain health is through millions of nerves in the gut connected to the gut microbiome. They can control the messages sent to the brain.

How Does the Gut Microbiome Help in Reducing the Risk of Diabetes?

The gut microbiome may also play a role in controlling blood sugar levels, potentially influencing the risk of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A recent study examined 33 infants who were genetically at high risk for type 1 diabetes. The study found that the diversity of their microbiomes dropped suddenly before the onset of type 1 diabetes, and levels of several unhealthy bacterial species increased just before the disease's onset. Additionally, another study discovered that blood sugar levels can vary greatly among people eating the same foods, which may be attributed to the different types of bacteria present in their guts.

How to Improve Gut Microbiome?

Some of the steps that should be followed to maintain a healthy gut microbiome are:

• Eating a Diverse Range of Foods: Consuming foods such as legumes, beans, or fruit that contain lots of fiber helps to diversify the gut microbiome.

• Avoiding Artificial Sweeteners: Some studies have stated that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame increase blood sugar levels by encouraging the growth of unhealthy microbes like Enterobacteriaceae in the gut microbiome.

• Consumption of Fermented Foods: Fermented foods such as yogurt contain healthy bacteria, mainly Lactobacilli, which help reduce disease-causing species in the gut.

• Eating Prebiotic Foods: Consumption of prebiotic foods that help to stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria is advisable. These foods include bananas, asparagus, oats, and apples.

• Breastfeeding for at Least Six Months: The mother needs to breastfeed the child for at least six months as breast milk is very important for developing the gut microbiome.

• Consumption of Polyphenols-Rich Food: Polyphenols are plant compounds found in red wine, dark chocolates, olive oil, and whole grains. The microbiome breaks down polyphenols to stimulate healthy bacterial growth.

Conclusion:

Gut microbiomes are healthy microorganisms that live inside the gut in the intestine. They are responsible for many body functions, such as food digestion, maintaining heart and brain health, and developing immunity. Maintaining gut microbiomes is important by eating a healthy and fibrous diet.