Our bodies are not just a collection of human cells, but a complex microcosm inhabited by trillions of microorganisms. Most of them are located in the gut, and their number exceeds the number of stars in the Milky Way. These microbes play an important role in maintaining health, but researchers are still struggling to fully understand their impact on the body.
Content
- The impact of nutrition on microbial balance
- How fiber helps maintain balance
- Why is this more important than probiotics?
- Further research and perspectives
As reported by IZ with reference to The Conversation, a recent study published in Nature Microbiology has shown that fiber plays an important role in controlling the growth of harmful bacteria, particularly members of the Enterobacteriaceae family (such as Escherichia coli). Under normal conditions, E. coli is not dangerous, but its excessive growth can lead to infections and health problems.
The impact of nutrition on microbial balance
To understand the relationship between gut bacteria and the factors that influence their population, scientists analyzed more than 12,000 fecal samples from 45 countries . Using DNA sequencing technology, the researchers determined which bacteria inhabit each person's gut.
The results showed that people with high levels of Enterobacteriaceae had a significantly different microbiome than those with low or no levels of these bacteria. Using this data, the researchers were able to predict the presence of harmful bacteria with 80% accuracy by analyzing the composition of the gut flora.
Scientists also discovered two groups of bacteria:
- Co-colonizers are microbes that coexist comfortably with Enterobacteriaceae.
- Co-excluders are bacteria that are rarely found together with harmful microorganisms.
How fiber helps maintain balance
The researchers focused on Faecalibacterium, a co-excluder bacterium that has the unique ability to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by breaking down dietary fiber. These compounds inhibit the growth of Enterobacteriaceae and help maintain a healthy gut microbiota.
The study also revealed an interesting fact: co-colonizers are more adaptable than other bacteria. They can survive in different environments, where Enterobacteriaceae also feel comfortable. This contradicts previous assumptions that bacteria that consume the same nutrients cannot coexist for long. It turned out that the decisive factors for the growth of harmful bacteria are the pH level, the oxygen content and nutrients in the intestine .
Why is this more important than probiotics?
Probiotics are commonly recommended to improve gut microbiota. However, a new study questions their effectiveness. New bacteria introduced into the gut from probiotics usually do not establish themselves for long . Instead, increasing the number of co-excluders or adjusting the diet may provide a more lasting effect .
Scientists propose another approach to controlling harmful bacteria:
- Increased consumption of fiber , which stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria (Faecalibacterium).
- Developing special diets that support microbiome balance.
- Influence on the biochemical processes of the intestine to make it difficult for Enterobacteriaceae to survive.
Further research and perspectives
Despite the importance of the findings, the research is not yet complete. Many regions, including South America and Africa , are underrepresented in global microbiome research, limiting our understanding of global patterns.
In the future, scientists plan to integrate metabolomics (the analysis of chemical compounds produced by microbes) and transcriptomics (the study of gene activity) methods to more fully understand the role of gut flora. They also plan to develop special diets to control levels of potentially harmful bacteria in the long term.
As a reminder, we previously wrote about the causes and treatment of frequent urges to go to the toilet.