New research reveals how trace metals mothers are exposed to during pregnancy can shape their babies’ gut bacteria, metabolic pathways, and even antibiotic resistance, potentially influencing lifelong health. Study: Prenatal exposure to trace elements impacts mother-infant gut microbiome, metabolome and resistome during the first year of life. Image Credit: Anusorn Nakdee / Shutterstock In a recent study … Read more
For the first time, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified patterns of metabolites in blood and urine that can be used as an objective measure of an individual’s consumption of energy from ultra-processed foods. Metabolites are left after the body converts food into energy, a process known as metabolism. Scientists used these … Read more
Every living creature on Earth needs to protect itself from things that would do it harm. Bacteria are no different. And despite their relative simplicity, they deploy remarkably savvy defensive strategies against viral invaders. The most well-known is CRISPR-Cas9, adapted for human use as the first FDA-approved genetic editing technique. In the past year, researchers … Read more
New study reveals how dairy products like non-fermented milk and cheese may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, while fermented options provide a surprising protective effect. Find out which dairy could be a game-changer for your health! Study: Dairy intake, plasma metabolome, and risk of type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort. Image Credit: Africa … Read more
Scientists have uncovered how gut-derived compounds in urine can reveal red wine’s anti-inflammatory effects—offering a more accurate way to link diet to heart health. Short Communication: Microbiota-derived resveratrol metabolites: New biomarkers of red wine consumption are inversely associated with inflammation in a longitudinal study of a Mediterranean population. Image Credit: givaga / Shutterstock In a recent study … Read more
Researchers led by Zhentao Zhang at Wuhan University, China have discovered a cholesterol metabolite that plays a critical role in the development of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology on February 18th, the study shows that this metabolite is responsible for the formation of Lewy bodies and the death of … Read more
Researchers discover a gut-microbe-driven pathway involving pantothenate and GLP-1 that could revolutionize sugar consumption management and metabolic health strategies. Study: Free fatty acid receptor 4 modulates dietary sugar preference via the gut microbiota. Image Credit: ya_create / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology, researchers in China investigated the role of the free … Read more
New research reveals the gut microbiota’s surprising role in aging and highlights promising therapies to counteract its effects on cellular health. Study: Gut microbial-derived phenylacetylglutamine accelerates host cellular senescence. Image Credit: Tatiana Shepeleva / Shutterstock A recent study published in the journal Nature Aging investigated the role of gut microbiota-derived phenylacetylglutamine (PAGln) in driving cellular senescence and … Read more