Gut Microbiota and Human Health

Scientists are finding that the gut microbiota may be linked to heart health, some cancers, and even the colour of urine.

Gut Microbiota

The human gut microbiota refers to the trillions of microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, that live in the human gut.

Previously, people referred to the gut microbiota as the microflora of the gut.
The gut microbiome is the environment they live in.
Establishment of the human gut microbiota:
- Infants inherit their first gut microbes during vaginal delivery or breastfeeding (chestfeeding).
- Later, your diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to your biome.

The gut microbiota assists in a range of bodily functions, including:

- harvesting energy from digested food
- protecting against pathogens
- regulating immune function
- strengthening the biochemical barriers of the gut and intestine

Changes in microbiota composition can affect these functions.

Disease:

- While there are beneficial bacteria in the gut, there are also harmful bacteria that can enter the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract and cause infection.
- These infections include food poisoning and other GI diseases that result in diarrhea and vomiting.
- Research suggests that bacterial populations in the GI system play a role in developing gut conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Low microbial diversity in the gut also has links to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- The status of the gut microbiota also has links to metabolic syndrome.
- Disturbing the microbiota with antibiotics can also lead to disease, including infections that become resistant to antibiotics.

Crohn’s disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. It can affect any part of your digestive tract, which runs from your mouth to your anus. But it usually affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine.Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Source:

Join Our Telegram

Bilateral Maritime Exercise –Ayutthaya

Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde)

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a and MASS EXTINCTION

25 Dec, 24
SHARE

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a from the Paris Basin (Environment) Paper-3 PMP OAE 1a refers to a period during the Cretaceous Period (145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago) when Earth's oceans became depleted of oxygen, causing a significant disruption in marine life. Cause: The event is believed to have been

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance)

26 Dec, 24
SHARE

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance) Governance GS PAPER-2 PMP Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative on Good Governance Day, celebrated to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative, which is part of the broader ‘Prashasan Gaon

Major programmes to control Air Pollution

23 Dec, 24
SHARE

Major programmes to control Air Pollution National Clean Air Programme? It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. The

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India

21 Dec, 24
SHARE

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India (Environment) GS Paper-3 P-M-P Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and/or indirectly injurious to humans or other l

Geopolitical Significance of Ports

20 Dec, 24
SHARE

Geopolitical Significance of Ports (IR) Act as geopolitical assets: Ports enhance the projection of strategic reach, which helps strengthen the country’s control over important sea and energy supply routes. E.g. Indian Navy’s staging base at Agalega Islands will enable marine patrols