Microbiome maintenance:
How could good gut health improve the immune system?
Did you know that the human body is home to about 100 billion microorganisms?
In fact, they outnumber human cells by a ratio of 10 to 1. Humans, animals and plants have our own unique microbiomes. Without bacteria, we probably would not exist.
Today, many people use the words microbiota and microbiome to mean the same thing. So, Is there a difference between these words?
The intestinal microbiota is part of humans from birth and affects the functioning of the whole organism. It consists of a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other single-celled animals that live in the body.
The microbiome is the name given to all the genes within these microbial cells; it is the community of microorganisms made up of trillions of cells, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses and fungi; living in a particular habitat. The largest populations of microbes reside in the gut, others are found on the skin.
How does good gut health relate to immune system response?
Many countries have invested large sums in researching interactions within the ecosystem of the human body and their relevance to health and disease.
Recent research by Tim Spector highlights that the highly active microbial community interacts with the host and performs many beneficial functions, which explains its tolerance by the host organism. In addition, the gut microbiome plays an important role in the body's immune response to infections.
Recently, probiotic supplementation has had beneficial effects in response to the immune system and has two main functions, which are as follows:
They displace pathogenic microorganisms, reducing their concentration.
They generate organic compounds (alcohol, acids and antibiotics) that kill pathogens.
These beneficial microorganisms are absorbed by the intestinal wall, stimulating the main antibodies, thus giving an immune response to the host.
Published by:
Héctor González Del Valle
Chemical Engineer