I see the microbiome lurking in a significant number of medical studies. For example:
Patients with prior sinusitis at increased risk for rheumatic diseases
Healio (3/26/24, Cooper) reports, “Patients with prior sinusitis demonstrate an increased risk for many rheumatic diseases, including antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjögren’s disease and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in RMD Open.” In the study, “researchers noted that the risk was most pronounced in cases of sinusitis reported within 5 to 10 years before rheumatic disease onset.”
Comment: sinusitis is often treated with antibiotics, which may unbalance the microbiome. Remember that therein lies 2/3 of the immune system. Rheumatic diseases are immune system problems. The inflammation that characterizes these diseases is generated by an unbalanced microbiome.
See below.
Apple cider vinegar may be effective in management of obesity
Healio (3/26/24, Rhoades) reports, “Apple cider vinegar might be an effective dietary intervention in the management of obesity, results from a randomized clinical study showed. The effect may be due to the primary component of apple cider vinegar (ACV) – acetic acid – which has been shown in a limited number of studies to reduce fat and improve metabolism, but the exact mechanism requires further study, researchers said.” The results were published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
Comment: another critical role of the microbiome is Metabolism, that is, how we manage the energy/information contained in the food we eat. ACV works by improving our microbiome.
See below.
Beneficial effect of vinegar consumption associated with regulating gut microbiome and metabolome
J. Current Research in Food Science, Volume 8, 2024, 100566
The levels of inflammatory factors were significantly decreased in Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) -treated mice. Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) intake altered gut microbiota structure. Research imply that vinegar consumption has beneficial effects by regulating gut microbiome and metabolome.
Vinegar is used as fermented condiment and functional food worldwide. Vinegar contains many nutrients and bioactive components, which exhibits health benefits. In this study, the potential effects of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) on gut microbiome and metabolome were explored in normal mice. The levels of inflammatory factors were significantly decreased in SAV-treated mice. Immunoglobulin, NK cells and CD20 expression were significantly increased after SAV administration. In addition, SAV intake altered gut microbiota structure by up-regulating Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, Hungatella and Alistipes, and down-regulating Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Oscillibacter. The differential metabolites were mainly included amino acids, carbohydrates and bile acids. Furthermore, after SAV intake, Verrucomicrobia, and Akkermansia closely impacted the related gut metabolites. These alterations of gut microbiota-related metabolism further modulated some immunoregulatory and inflammatory factors, and confer potential health benefits. Our results imply that vinegar consumption has beneficial effects on regulating gut microbiome and metabolome.
Effects of Antibiotics upon the Gut Microbiome: A Review of the Literature
J. Biomedicines 2020, 8(11), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8110502
The human gastrointestinal tract carries a large number of microorganisms associated with complex metabolic processes and interactions. Although antibiotic treatment is crucial for combating infections, its negative effects on the intestinal microbiota and host immunity have been shown to be of the utmost importance. Multiple studies have recognized the adverse consequences of antibiotic use upon the gut microbiome in adults and neonates, causing dysbiosis of the microbiota. Repeated antibiotic treatments in clinical care or low-dosage intake from food could be contributing factors in this issue. Researchers in both human and animal studies have strived to explain this multifaceted relationship. The present review intends to elucidate the axis of the gastrointestinal microbiota and antibiotics resistance and to highlight the main aspects of the issue.
