Posted in Gut Health

Stress increases cortisol, which may have a profound impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and metabolome, selectively decreasing beneficial bacteria and secretory IgA (sIgA). Thus, it is not surprising that clinical interventions implemented to resolve GI symptoms may not be completely successful if stress is not considered as a potential root cause. Chronic stress directly effects our gastrointestinal health via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. Stress can adve...

A recent study in France demonstrated that a 30-day treatment with the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum 35624 resulted in a significant improvement in symptoms of irritable bowel for approximately two-thirds of patients with IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gut-brain disorder that can cause a variety of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhoea, constipation, or a mix of the two. IBS can reduce quality of life, often results in m...

People with pancreatic cancer are more likely to need pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for several reasons. First, pancreatic cancer can itself damage the pancreas and block the flow of pancreatic enzymes into the intestine, which is where food is normally digested. Surgically removing the pancreas and parts of the intestine to treat pancreatic cancer or other types of cancer can also lead to pancreatic enzyme deficiency. In addition, certain tumours can produce high levels of stomach ac...

Two distinct gut microbiota subtypes showed an enhanced clinical response to a low FODMAP diet in an analysis of 41 adults with irritable bowel syndrome. The onset of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often appears during cancer chemotherapy and it has a significant impact on quality of life. For some patients, a  low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet represents a great relief.   The low FODMAP diet limits prebiotic fibr...

Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown that diet-associated molecules in the gut are associated with aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting dietary interventions may help reduce risk. Findings from the study were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. While more research will be necessary, the study’s lead author Nima Sharifi, MD, says findings from the team’s analysis of nearly 700 patients may have clinical implications for diagnosing and preventing le...