Gut Bacteria Divide People Into 3 Types

[SdN]

An interesting read. I'm curious if this will lead to new treatments or possibly a cure for intestinal disorders.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/science/21gut.html

 

[D Bergy]

Very interesting.

Now they have to see if people with Crohn's fall into any particular category.

Dan

 

[ameslouise]

I was just about to post the same link!!

I was curious about the same thing, Dan.

- Amy

 

[KaLa]

That's really interesting.

 

[troydanielbecker]

On page 5 of that recent report ( http://www.acg.gi.org/media/releases/ajg201158a.pdf ) it also mentions how the gut flora is distinctly different in UC patients, crohn's patients, and healthy controls....

 

[troydanielbecker]

ps, it looks like the Times article and that recent report are talking about the same source data....

It's interesting, though, that the gastro report focused on the distinctions categorized by gut pathology, but the Times report doesn't go that far....

 

[KaLa]

Thanks for the link. It's a really informative article.

 

[troydanielbecker]

Based on this research, would doctors be able to kill off the bacteria linked to Crohns and other intestinal diseases and introduce another type of bacteria? Or is the idea to make medicines based on the type of gut bacteria the person has? I know people who have colon and digestive cleanses, have to reintroduce gut bacteria into their system because the original bacteria is washed away or killed off.

Lawrence, that seems to be the idea and research and results are presumably pending. Also, it isn't seem so much about completely different microbes, but also different proportions--for example, a higher percentage of bifidobacteria strains in healthy controls than in the IBD guts.