Probiotics and the Microbiome: An Evolving Landscape
An Emerging Body of Research
Since the third century BCE, theorists have speculated that the digestive system is the root of all disease. It has only been in the last decade that modern research has started to prove these theories right. The human body is home to more than 10,000 species of microbes including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These communities of microscopic organisms live on the skin, in the mouth, nose, ears, throat and throughout the digestive tract. Collectively, these symbiotic residents are referred to as the “human microbiome”.
In 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Human Microbiome Project1 to analyze the role of this diverse ecosystem and the role it plays in health and disease. To 2024-09-09, $173M has been invested in the project2.
The Influence of the Microbiome
So, what did we get for all this money and how can we benefit from the information collected? The research is extensive, but now confirms that those early theorists were correct. There is, in fact, a clear connection between the microbiome and health. The microbiome influences metabolism, immunity, inflammation, neurotransmitter and vitamin production, nutrient absorption, and a host of other processes large and small. This means that doctors and patients now have another route of investigation into complex system interactions.
Individual Development of Microbiome
What was once considered genetic predisposition to disease may largely be attributable to the variety of an individual’s microbiome, each directly influenced and supported by their environment, diet, and lifestyle. And while it is well established that our microbiome develops rapidly from birth, newer research suggests it begins even sooner3. So you’re still welcome to blame your parents for their contributions.
It’s true we can’t control our route of birth, what we’re fed as babies, childhood illnesses or medications, all of which are factors in early development of the microbiome. But many influencing factors remain under our control, including dietary choices, medication regimens (antibiotics, steroids, proton-pump inhibitors, etc.), toxin exposure, and stress.
What Can We Do?
Today, physicians benefit from advances in personalized medicine. An array of laboratory analyses can help to elucidate the status of a patient’s current microbiome, allowing for highly customized programs ranging from diet and nutrition to exercise and stress relief.
Stay tuned because future posts in this series will focus on specific mechanisms of the microbiome and the role it plays in the health of the human it serves.
Klaire Labs guest author:
Dr. Jessica Brandes
Jessica is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor who earned her doctorate from the CNME-accredited National College of Natural Medicine. A former New Yorker, Jessica did her undergraduate work at NYU. She is a member of the AANP and the OANP and holds a certification in the use of advanced IV treatments from the IIVNTP.
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