Maternal exposure to metals rewires infants’ gut and resistance genes

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

Breastfeeding habits barely change milk’s microbiome, study reveals

Despite common beliefs, new research shows that how often and how long mothers breastfeed has almost no impact on milk microbiome diversity. Study: The human milk microbiome is minimally associated with breastfeeding practices. Image credit: comzeal images/Shutterstock.com A recent paper in the journal Scientific Reports explored associations between human milk bacteria and breastfeeding attributes. Introduction Breast milk is … Read more

Adapting Diet to Chronotype Boosts Weight Loss, Gut Health

Among patients with overweight/obesity, a diet adapted to an individual’s chronotype was more effective in promoting weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health and gut microbiota (GM) than a conventional low-calorie diet. “Emerging evidence suggests that aligning dietary patterns with an individual’s circadian rhythm, or chronotype, may optimize metabolic processes and gut microbiota (GM) composition and … Read more

Spain Nears Legal Shift on HIV-Positive Donors

Historically, the presence of HIV infection in a patient with end-stage organ failure has been considered an absolute contraindication for organ transplantation. However, advances in antiretroviral therapy have significantly improved life expectancy for people living with HIV to the extent that the condition is now generally managed as a chronic disease. At the same time, … Read more

ADHD linked to higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome, global study reveals

New research shows a clear link between ADHD and irritable bowel syndrome, suggesting gut health could be a key factor in understanding and managing ADHD symptoms. Study: Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and intestinal disorders: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Image Credit: ClareM / Shutterstock In a recent review article published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers systematically … Read more

Maternal obesity linked to children’s heightened risk of infection-related hospitalizations

Children born to mothers who are very obese with a BMI of 35 or higher are at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital for an infection, finds a long term study published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight before and after the pregnancy, … Read more

Phytosterols in plant-based foods linked to lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes

Heart disease and type 2 diabetes rank among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and eating a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods can help to prevent or delay both of these conditions. New research suggests that a particular component of plant-based foods, known as phytosterol, could be instrumental in … Read more

How soy and gut microbes alter cancer treatment results

Groundbreaking research reveals how gut microbes and dietary soy can influence the outcome of cancer treatments, paving the way for a new frontier in personalized oncology. Study: Microbiome metabolism of dietary phytochemicals controls the anticancer activity of PI3K inhibitors. Image Credit: CI Photos / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Cell, researchers demonstrated that phytochemicals … Read more

High-fiber plant-based diet could benefit patients at risk for developing multiple myeloma

Results from a new clinical trial suggest that a high-fiber plant-based diet could benefit patients at risk for developing multiple myeloma, the second most common type of blood cancer. The study showed that the diet was not only feasible and well-received but also improved several factors that could potentially delay the progression of precancerous conditions … Read more

Experts chart path to bring microbiome science into routine clinical care

As researchers unlock the diagnostic and therapeutic promise of the human microbiome, a new roadmap highlights the urgent need for standardization, better evidence, and clinician education to transform patient care. Perspective: The microbiome for clinicians. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock A recent perspective published in the journal Cell outlines the challenges, opportunities, and necessary actions to … Read more