Gut Microbiome

Danone awards $50K for yogurt, probiotics & gut microbiome research

03-May-2021 By Stephen Daniells

The mechanisms of probiotic and prebiotic function in the gut microbiome as a mediator of cardiovascular disease and early-life microbiota components that may prevent obesity in children are the two research projects on the receiving end of the Danone’s...

Researchers develop novel model to predict complex gut microbiota dynamics

22-Apr-2021 By Danielle Masterson

A new report published in the journal PNAS describes how the innovation could be used to develop new probiotics and identify bacteria to improve the treatment of various illnesses.

AnimalBiome lays out best practices for microbiome study design in animal research

19-Apr-2021 By Danielle Masterson

The human microbiome is complex enough, so imagine having to tackle the emergent complexities that arise from the microbiota of animals.

Global study finds gut bacteria swap genes at different rates, depending on living situation

12-Apr-2021 By Danielle Masterson

A new study that examined the microbiomes of people living around the world has found that gut bacteria continuously acquire new functionality—depending on host lifestyle and industrialization.

Synbiotics may offer blood sugar management potential, protect gut integrity: Study

09-Apr-2021 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics may help manage blood sugar levels via the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis, suggests a study with mice.

Children’s gut microbiota mature along similar trajectories, but at different speeds: Study

06-Apr-2021 By Danielle Masterson

While previous studies have suggested that the microbiota begins to stabilize and evolve toward an adult-like composition two to three years after birth, several bacterial taxa that have been associated with human health are acquired later in childhood...

Multi-strain probiotic + prebiotic superior to reference drug for colic relief: Study

31-Mar-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing colicky infants with a combination of eight bacterial strains and a prebiotic may reduce both the number of crying days and the average evening crying duration, says a new study from Poland.

Probiotic’s obesity benefits partially translate from animals to humans: Study

29-Mar-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplementation with the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum APC1472 may improve blood sugar levels in healthy overweight/obese adults, according to a new study from APC Microbiome Ireland.

NutraCast: Ara Katz of Seed Health

19-Mar-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Seed health is a biotech startup that’s developing novel uses of bacteria to improve human and planetary health. Seed’s co-founder and co-CEO joined the NutraCast to discuss her work, describing how she got here, where she’s headed, and what legacy she...

Unilever inks deal with Microba to explore the sleep-gut microbiome link

18-Mar-2021 By Will Chu

UK food giants Unilever has ramped up its interest in the gut microbiome in a new partnership with Microba Life Sciences looking at the link between gut health and sleep quality.

Study finds microbiome 'signature' associated with healthy aging

01-Mar-2021 By Danielle Masterson

A large set of longitudinal data revealed a distinct gut microbiome signature that is associated with healthy aging and survival in the latest decades of life.

Researchers develop a non-invasive diagnostic tool for developing personalized probiotics, prebiotics

17-Feb-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Scintigraphic transit, intraluminal manometry, the barostat technique...these are just a few of the methods available for developing a detailed picture of what goes on in the gut—but they’re also very invasive. Now there's an alternative.

Researchers dig up secrets of gut microbiomes from thousands of years ago

09-Feb-2021 By Danielle Masterson

What do you get when an archeologist and a gut microbiome researcher collaborate? Ancient poop.

‘Organs-on-a-chip’ sheds light on gut microbiome’s role in Parkinson’s disease

09-Feb-2021 By Will Chu

Researchers have developed an 'organs-on-a-chip' system that models the interactions between the brain, gut microbiome, liver, and colon in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Research team designs novel Microbiome Search Engine 2

04-Feb-2021 By Danielle Masterson

When it comes to large-scale mining of microbiome data sets, the process can be complicated, tedious, and downright overwhelming. Given the large volume of data, it is difficult to relate a new microbiome sample to the huge number of existing microbiome...

Researchers develop more accurate, cheaper approach to microbiome data mining

03-Feb-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Although microbiome research has been around for many years, the ways in which it is studied has evolved over the years. Research that was once hindered due to its costly price tag is now coming down, opening the doors for more studies. Major advances...

We need to address infant gut deficiency now, researchers warn

01-Feb-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Initially thought to play a limited role, evidence shows the gut microbiome performs essential duties related to digestion and metabolism, immune system development and neurotransmitter production that affect behavior and cognitive function—from the moment...

NutraCast Podcast: Sun Genomics on personalized probiotics

29-Jan-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Sun Genomics is a custom probiotics startup that uses personalized science to improve gut health. The company's first consumer product, Floré, analyzes the microflora of stool and uses the results to craft a custom probiotic. Through DNA sequencing,...

Personalized nutrition: The ‘holy grail’ of pet industry

21-Jan-2021 By Danielle Masterson

As concerns over immune health climb, so does the interest in gut health. About 100 trillion live microorganisms live inside the gut, along with 70% of the immune system.

For the Biome makes leap from skin to immune health

01-Dec-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The company said they are redefining immunity health with a new 3-product system that begins in the gut — home to 70% of the immune system.

New research could lead to engineered beneficial bacteria, gut microbiome manipulation

23-Nov-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Rearchers have uncovered information gleaned from virus discovery that could be used to control the composition of the gut microbiome.

Three sweetened drinks a day has 'minimal effect' on gut microbiome, says study

06-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

High consumption of sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose over a two week period has minimal effect on gut microbiota composition or SCFA production, according to the secondary outcomes of a double-blind RCT.

As infant gut develops, microbial strains form individualized patterns of stability: Study

05-Nov-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Two researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have spent the last three years using the microbiome ‘fingerprint’ technique -- a method that harnesses the power of genomic tools and supercomputers to identify individual strains within a...

NutraCast Podcast: Evolve Biosystems on infant probiotics

30-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The process of prenatal development of the infant microbiome is significant. In order to correct immunological and physiological development, timing and the selecting the right strain play a major role.

Gut microbiome changes in high-protein diet offer weight loss insights

23-Oct-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A high protein, calorie restricted diet (HPD) leads to a more diverse gut microbiome in obesity and different microbial change as compared to that seen in response to a normal protein, calorie restricted diet (NPD), which may indicate the reason behind...

Host genetics, gut microbiota play role in MS severity: Mouse study

20-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Scientists have found that the state of the gut microbiome is often altered in those with chronic conditions, which has further spurred the popularity of probiotics to restore the gut microbiome. However, researchers from the University of Vermont (UVM)...

Researchers investigate gut microbiome and COVID-19 connection

25-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The recent webinar "The Human Microbiome and COVID-19: Investigating a Potential Connection" offered an exclusive look into a pioneering clinical investigation that wrapped up in August. The research is being led by Dr. Martin J. Blaser, Henry...

A credit score for your gut? Scientists develop index to distinguish between healthy and diseased microbiomes

18-Sep-2020 By Stephen Daniells

We may have taken a step closer to understanding what a ‘healthy microbiome’ looks like, as scientists at the Mayo Clinic report the development of the Gut Microbiome Health Index. The proposed index may help differentiate a healthy microbiome from a...

Scientists use ingestible device to take snapshot of gut

11-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Danish Researchers report that they have developed an ingestible capsule that captured bacteria and other biological samples while passing through the gastrointestinal tract of rats.

Probiotics help preterm babies establish a 'normal' microbiome: Study

27-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Specific strains of probiotic Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria given to preterm babies in combination with breast milk may help to build microbial populations and gut health that mirror those of full-term babies, suggests data from the Baby-Associated...

How gut microbiome affects host behavior: Study

26-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

With about 90% of serotonin receptors located in the gut, it is easy to understand why the gut is often referred to as the "second brain." While we do know that what we eat affects the microbiome and the brain, how the microbiome in turn impacts...

NutraVideo: Dr. Dan Gubler on the gut's role in stress

18-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Pretty much everything we do impacts our gut microbiomes — from the amount of sleep we get, to what we eat and even how we manage stress.

Prebiotic and probiotic interventions may ease depression in adults

07-Jul-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Millions of people suffer from depression across the globe. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year. The most common treatment methods for depression are antidepressant...

The mouth-gut axis: How poor oral health may worsen gut inflammation

23-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Is the mouth the gatekeeper of the gut? A new collaborative study suggests IBD may be worsened by poor oral health.

Novel findings: Mouse study shows annatto tocotrienols may impact gut microbiota, benefit metabolic health

22-Jun-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Tocotrienols from annatto may beneficially modify the composition of the gut microbiome and positively impact glucose homeostasis and inflammation, suggests data from a study in mice.

Sodium may modulate the gut microbiome, blood pressure: Study

11-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

New research has found that gender and sodium intake play a role in gut microbiota.

Vitamin K production by gut microbes may influence bone quality: Study

11-May-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Microbiome-induced reductions in bone tissue strength is linked to changes in vitamin production by gut microbes.

Analysis calls attention to importance of gut function

30-Mar-2020 By Danielle Masterson

There is a growing appreciation for the gut microbiome, which has been linked to impacting everything from metabolism to hormones to mental health.

CBD could play role in dealing with resistant microorganisms

27-Mar-2020 By Danielle Masterson

As antibiotic resistance reaches dangerously high levels, scientists are researching ways to halt this alarming trend.

“Citizen scientists” sought to help identify the gut microbiome’s relationship to food

18-Feb-2020 By Danielle Masterson

A new research project is underway that gives a few hundred lucky Americans the chance to map out their gut microbiome.

From the Editor's Desk

Probiotics under fire: ‘When a doctor treats himself, he has a fool for a patient’

18-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal has caused consternation among stakeholders in the probiotics space. Why? Well, for an article written by an MD and cancer researcher it’s as unscientific as it is potentially damaging.

BioActor study: Evidence so far suggests citrus flavanones, metabolites benefit gastrointestinal function

18-Jul-2019 By Adi Menayang

A group of Dutch researchers looked at 22 published studies to summarize the evidence we have so far on the health benefits of a group of compounds (called flavanones) found in citrus.

MIT researchers develop blowfish-inspired smart pill to survive hostile GI conditions

31-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

A jelly-like pill developed by MIT researchers may bring us a step closer to uncovering the remaining mysteries of the human digestive system.

Pilot study sheds light on curcumin’s potential influence on gut microbiota

24-Sep-2018 By Adi Menayang

Results from a new clinical trial suggests that curcuminoids found in turmeric modulate the composition and population of gut bacteria, potentially offering health benefits to the host.

Probiota Americas 2018 in Miami

Pilot study sheds light on probiotics’ potential as novel therapy for depression symptoms

18-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

Building on previous studies on the gut-brain axis, PhD candidate Caroline Wallace postulates that probiotics consumption may modulate depression symptoms.

Dispatches from the IPA World Congress in Athens, Greece

Psychobiotics can feed gut-brain health axis: 'It’s really an exciting frontier,' says professor

05-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

Evidence is building that links the gut microbiome and brain function and ‘psychobiotics’ are at the heart of that, says a leading Irish researcher working in the field for more than five years.