Tag

Microbiome

All articles tagged with #microbiome

health7 days ago•6 min saved

Front-loading calories at breakfast linked to weight loss in small study

A small randomized crossover trial in adults with overweight/obesity found that eating 45% of daily calories at a large breakfast and 20% at dinner led to weight loss over 28 days, with two plan variants—high-protein (less hungry) and high-fiber (slightly more weight loss and greater gut microbiome diversity). The high-fiber group lost about 4.87 kg and the high-protein group about 3.87 kg; both improved blood pressure and lipids. Limitations include a small, mostly male sample and short duration, so longer, larger studies are needed, with personalization and consideration of circadian factors.

via Medical News Today|

#breakfast #fiber #health

healthcare10 days ago•12 min saved

Toothbrushing 2–3 Times a Day Could Lower Dementia Risk

A science conference linked good dental hygiene to a reduced risk of more than 50 conditions, including dementia, urging people to brush two to three times daily (with a pre-bedtime brush) and to consider electric brushes; researchers warn UK oral health is lagging and bacteria from gums may affect the brain and other organs.

via The Times|

#dementia #dentistry #healthcare

health20 days ago•4 min saved

Trend foods aren’t miracle cures for your gut

The BBC notes that while the gut microbiome influences digestion, mood, and immunity, popular fixes like chia seed water, sea moss gel, olive oil shots, bone broth, and kombucha offer little proven benefit for healthy people. Evidence is thin and varies by product; the best practical approach is a diverse, plant-rich diet high in fiber and low in ultra-processed foods, with medical advice sought for persistent gut issues. Cautions include potential heavy metals/iodine in sea moss and saturated fat in bone broth.

via BBC|

#bone-broth #diet-trends #fiber

science22 days ago•4 min saved

Young-Microbial Boost Rejuvenates Aging Mouse Guts

Transplanting fecal material from young to old mice increased intestinal stem cell activity and Wnt signaling, speeding gut tissue renewal and improving radiation healing, suggesting gut microbes can influence age-related intestinal decline (human relevance to be studied).

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #akkermansia #gut-health

health24 days ago•4 min saved

A Doctor’s Three Everyday Hacks to Boost Metabolism

Dr. Adam Perlman, a functional medicine doctor, has methodically tweaked his daily routine to support metabolic health. His three focus areas are: 1) a protein-forward, plant-rich diet with a wide variety of foods and fermented items, while avoiding ultra-processed foods; 2) optimized sleep (blackout shades, a noise machine, and a cooler bedroom) and clear boundaries around bedtime; and 3) morning mindfulness through a brief meditation routine. He also maintains regular strength training and Krav Maga, and he views meals as a balance of protein and vegetables to support fat loss and hormonal health, drawing on recent gut microbiome research to guide his choices.

via Business Insider|

#diet #health #metabolism

health27 days ago•2 min saved

Pill-Based Donor Microbes Show Early Promise in Boosting Cancer Immunotherapy

Two small Nature Medicine trials suggest oral fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) pills may boost immunotherapy in advanced cancers: in metastatic kidney cancer, FMT reduced immunotherapy side effects and produced about a 50% response; in advanced lung cancer or melanoma, combining FMT with immunotherapy yielded response rates around 75–80%, higher than typical 39–45% rates. While promising, results are early and require larger trials.

via Gizmodo|

#cancer-immunotherapy #fecal-microbiota-transplantation #health

science29 days ago•3 min saved

Gut inflammation linked to Alzheimer's progression, new study finds

A 125-participant study found higher fecal calprotectin (gut inflammation) associated with amyloid plaques and poorer memory, supporting a gut-brain link in Alzheimer's; causality isn’t proven and animal studies are being pursued.

via ScienceAlert|

#alzheimers-disease #calprotectin #gut-brain-axis

health1 month ago•12 min saved

Five Steps to Real Gut Health Doctors Endorse

A Vogue health feature explains that gut health influences immune, brain, and metabolic health, and outlines a five-step, personalized approach—remove triggers, replace digestive factors, reinoculate with beneficial bacteria, repair the gut lining, and rebalance lifestyle factors—guided by professionals and sometimes stool testing, with emphasis on consistency over quick detoxes.

via Vogue|

#digestion #gut-health #health

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Ferments, Fiber, and Probiotics: A Practical Guide to Gut Health

The article explains how the gut microbiome influences mood, sleep, energy, and overall health, and offers five practical steps to support it: eat fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso); consider a scientifically backed probiotic for specific issues; prioritize prebiotics (fiber types like inulin, FOS, and GOS); increase overall fiber intake through plant-based foods; and consider dairy like yogurt or kefir that can nourish beneficial bacteria, with sleep and exercise also playing a role. It also cautions to rule out other causes for symptoms and notes that microbiome science is still evolving.

via SELF Magazine|

#fiber #gut-health #health

science1 month ago•7 min saved

RNA Obelisks in Humans Blur the Line Between Living and Nonliving

Researchers report thousands of circular, non-coding RNA structures, dubbed obelisks, found across human saliva and gut microbiomes. They behave like replicators but do not resemble viruses, plasmids, or other known genetic elements, lacking protein-coding capacity and a protective shell. Their replication mechanism remains unknown, and they defy existing biological classifications, suggesting a possible new life-like class within the microbiome. There is no evidence of harm to humans yet, but their ubiquity hints at ecological or evolutionary significance and a need for new taxonomic frameworks.

via Indian Defence Review|

#circular-rna #microbiome #obelisks

science1 month ago•7 min saved

Flour Choice Rewrites the Sourdough Microbiome

A North Carolina State University study published in Microbiology Spectrum found that sourdough starters share a dominant yeast, Kazachstania, across flour types, but the bacterial communities shift with flour: whole wheat favors Companilactobacillus, while bread flour increases Levilactobacillus, indicating flour type acts as an ecological driver that can influence fermentation and bread flavor. The work used metabarcoding and began as a classroom project, highlighting how ingredients and environment shape the sourdough microbiome.

via SciTechDaily|

#flour-type #kazachstania #lactobacillus

science1 month ago•8 min saved

New Gut Metabolite May Cut Infant Allergy Risk, DTU Finds

DTU researchers identify 4-hydroxyphenyl lactate (4-OH-PLA), a metabolite produced by specific bifidobacteria in early-life guts, that dampens IgE production and lowers the risk of allergies and asthma. The study followed 147 children to age five across Sweden, Germany, and Australia, showing that early colonization with these bacteria correlates with reduced allergic sensitization; vaginal birth, exclusive breastfeeding, and contact with other infants increase these bacteria. The team suggests probiotic supplements or infant formula enriched with the bacteria or metabolite as preventive strategies, with a patent filed. Translation to preventive use could appear in a few years, while therapies for existing allergies may take up to a decade to develop and approve.

via SciTechDaily|

#allergies #immunology #infants

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Aging Revealed: Two Midlife Turning Points at 44 and 60

A Stanford-led study analyzing 135,000 molecular markers in 108 people finds aging may occur at two discrete inflection points—around ages 44 and 60—where rapid changes occur in cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic pathways, with microbiome shifts closely linked to these transitions. While causality isn’t established, the results suggest midlife biology could influence disease risk and screening strategies, potentially guiding precision medicine. Limitations include a small, non-diverse sample and observational data; lifestyle factors like stress and alcohol may also play a role in these transitions.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#aging #biology #microbiome

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Nursery attendance seeds diversity in infants’ gut microbiomes

A study tracking 43 infants in Italy over their first year found that attending nursery rapidly shifts their gut microbiomes through extensive baby-to-baby transmission; after four months, 15–20% of the microbes were shared with nursery peers, more than those acquired from family, and while diet also plays a role, social interactions greatly boost microbial richness and diversity, with strains like Akkermansia muciniphila moving from mother to infant to other babies and even back to parents.

via Nature|

#akkermansia-muciniphila #babies #microbiome

science1 month ago•29 min saved

Obelisks: Tiny RNA life forms found living inside the human microbiome

Researchers report the discovery of obelisks—tiny circular RNA life forms inside human-associated bacteria in the mouth and gut—potentially a new class of RNA-based life that challenges virus/viroid definitions, with health implications still unknown; the findings were shared on bioRxiv and Royal Society Open Science.

via Earth.com|

#circular-rna #microbiome #obelisks