Gut health commonly known as the body’s ‘second brain’ plays a vital role in stabilizing the physical and mental health of the patient. The gut microbiome contains a complex community of microorganisms which includes viruses, fungi, and bacteria. This blog post, helps us to delve inside the gut microbiome, and help to figure out its role in the human immune system. Gut microbiome is the collective term given to a variety of microorganisms live inside the gastrointestinal tract. Every person has the unique gut microbiome, it is affected due to genetics, environmental factors, and their lifestyle.
Effect of Gut microbiome
- Effects on Nutrient Absorption and Digestion: The human microbiome lacks several enzymes that are required to breakdown large complex molecules into smaller digestible substances. To digest these complex molecules gut microorganisms are used, they help in breaking large compounds in short-chain fatty acids. These short-chain fatty acids serve as the energy source for the microbes present in the colon lining.
- Effects on Gut-Brain axis and mental health: The gut-brain axis is also known as the connection between the Gut and Brain. The gut microbiome helps in the production of approximately 90% of serotonin, which helps in mood elevation. The amount of this hormone inside the body, determines the person’s mood, if its number is low person will show symptoms of depression. Due to disruption in the Gut-Brain axis, leads to a leaky gut that helps the lipopolysaccharides to enter the bloodstream and triggers inflammation, which further causes many neurological disorders. For example, Alzheimer’s.
