Bodies Deprive Essential Gut Microorganisms: An Examination of the Mechanisms and Reasons
Digging into the Gut's Gastronomic Dynamics
Let's debunk the myth that the gut is a microbial paradise, teeming with an endless supply of sustenance for bacteria. The truth is more complex and beneficial for our health.
Our bodies might just be more populated with microbes than we imagined. Here's a fascinating fact: hundreds of trillions of microbial cells call our bodies home, especially our guts. This brings a whole different meaning to the phrase "gut feelings."
We share a symbiotic relationship with these microorganisms. They have a significant impact on our overall health, both physical and mental. On the flip side, they also depend on us for their existence, feeding, living, and growing.
Well, as it turns out, our bodies are quite adept at ensuring these microorganisms don’t tip the scales in their favor. A research team at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC, discovered that our bodies keep a firm grip on the nutrient supply, particularly nitrogen, to control the growth of these bacteria.
In fact, the bacteria in our gut have access to roughly 1 nitrogen atom for every 10 carbon atoms. This is significantly less than free-living microbes, who get an average of 1 nitrogen atom for every 4 carbon atoms. A bit like a hunger games scenario, wouldn’t you say?
To confirm their findings, the team conducted an experiment in mice, feeding them protein-rich diets. The results? The more protein they fed the mice, the more their gut bacteria multiplied. Furthermore, when injected with nitrogen, researchers noticed that some of it reached the gut bacteria.
This suggests that the host is capable of secreting nitrogen via gut cells to feed the bacteria, potentially acting as a natural leash to keep them tame.
The results highlight the delicate balance the host sustain in managing the gut microbiome ecosystem, all in the name of maintaining a harmonious relationship that benefits both us and our microbial guests.
According to study co-author, Lawrence A. David, Ph.D., "it’s not surprising that we, the host, should hold more of the cards."
As for the common notion of the human gut microbiome as a "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory" where resources abound, David jokes, “the bacteria are individual organisms, just trying to get by – and there is only so much food to go around."
Now, the bigger picture involves the potential dangers of antibiotics. The team delved into the repercussions of trying to control bacteria by attacking them with these drugs, publishing their findings earlier this year in the journal eLife.
In the absence of bacteria to "clean up" these substances, such as nitrate or sulfate, they began to accumulate in the gut. Once the antibiotics were discontinued, the gut re-established its microbial balance – but we don't fully understand the "right" number of bacteria to maintain in the gut.
The researchers warn that destabilizing the microbiome can potentially allow pathogens to establish themselves more easily. As David notes, "it is not the same for humans." So, be wary of taking antibiotics casually.
currently, the team is investigating how diet, particularly the presence of prebiotics and probiotics, can help maintain the delicate bacterial balance in the gut. After all, Nature has had millions of years to figure out the secret weapon to maintaining the human-bacteria relationship – and now it's up to us to understand it better.
The science of health-and-wellness has revealed that our gut, once perceived as a limitless food source for bacteria, is governed by a complex interplay between the host and its microbial inhabitants. This is where nutrition comes into play, as understanding the role of essential nutrients like nitrogen can help us maintain a healthy gut ecosystem, ensuring a balanced symbiotic relationship between us and our gut bacteria. On the other hand, thoughtless use of antibiotics, which disrupt this balance, could potentially allow harmful pathogens to invade, posing threats to our health.
