Exactly what is a “healthy” gut microbiome? Many would just say eat fiber. Others would throw a probiotic into that mix. As usual, the situation in our bodies is much more complicated than that. Researchers from the integrative medicine program at George Washington University along with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reviewed the current research and argue for a broader consideration of the impact of our diet on our gut microbiome.
Rather than announcing some amazing discovery, they humbly admit that current science is “ineffective” at identifying robust indicators of health in the microbiome. As is often the case in science, we need better tools and a better understanding of how to use the tools we have. They emphasize how we need tools for evaluating microbiome function rather than just composition.
In functional medicine, we are already using various advanced stool testing to look at the composition of our patient’s microbiome. We are also using a list of metabolic markers of GI health to lower inflammation, treat dysbiosis, relieve leaky gut, and more. We see success in patients as they return to our clinic, but we also look forward to the growing research knowledge as lab scientists help us pinpoint mechanisms of action for different gut bacteria and how to apply this knowledge in the office. As medical science advances, functional MD’s like myself constantly work to stay on the cutting edge so our patients can move towards the healthier more abundant life as fast as possible.
Original Article
Scott A Jackson, Elise Costa, Leigh A Frame. Current Explorations of Nutrition and the Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Review Literature. Nutrition Reviews, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz106
Thanks to Science Daily
George Washington University. “Diet, nutrition have profound effects on gut microbiome.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 March 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325131539.htm>
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
