Miraculous intestine This protects us from cancer and other diseases

The microbiome in the human gut affects the risk of cancer

Previous studies on cancer therapy have already shown that if the intestinal flora of patients contained the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, such people were more likely to respond to preparations that make the tumor more visible to the immune system. Researchers have now analyzed the intestinal flora of a total of 112 patients with skin cancer, and found that greater bacterial diversity in the gut leads to better efficacy of therapies.

Scientists at the Anderson Cancer Center in Texas found in their study that greater bacterial diversity in the gut can improve the effectiveness of therapies. The intestinal flora is now regarded as one of the possible triggering factors for many diseases in which the immune system is involved. This is not only true for inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but also for type 1 diabetes, atopic dermatitis, asthma, inflammatory rheumatism or multiple sclerosis.

Today's lifestyle is changing the microbiome

In recent years, the incidence of many of these diseases is increasing sharply. For example, the number of inflammatory bowel diseases among adolescents in France has doubled between 1988 and 2011. Diabetes also continues to increase. Genetic factors for increased risk have always existed. However, today's lifestyle seems to be changing the microbiome significantly, researchers say. Physicians suspect that diet has a significant impact on these changes, which is favored by too much red meat and animal fat. A protective effect could be the consumption of fruits and vegetables. But also drugs and the consumption of tobacco have a negative effect on the microbion.

Food additives affect the microbiome

Of course, antibiotics are very important drugs, but of course a non-critical use of these drugs is questionable. At the present time, there are also many foods containing additives, experts explain, according to the Austrian "courier". For example, so-called sugar substitutes change the microbiome. Whether this change has a positive or negative impact has not yet been explored.

Blocking properties of bacteria could inhibit the development of cancer

Part of our microbiome is passed down from generation to generation. This leads to an increase in the impact. Microbes could potentially play an important role in immune system changes. In patients with colon cancer, the composition of the intestinal bacteria of those affected changed, as shown by previous studies from Austria. This finding could be an important approach for future therapies. So it would be possible to block certain properties of bacteria. This could then inhibit the development of cancer.

Consultants and manufacturers use the topic intestinal microbiome to make a profit

Many dubious health and lifestyle consultants have now discovered the topic of intestinal microbiome for themselves. Due to expensive analyzes of the intestinal flora conclusions are drawn on the health, the experts warn. There are also a variety of diets, cures or dietary supplements that allegedly can bring a disturbed microbiome back into balance. However, most of the scientific evidence is missing for effectiveness. But as with many dangerous illnesses, sufferers desperately spend a lot of money on such measures or treatments. (As)