Pain has a purpose. It tells us to pay attention: to remove a hand from fire, rest a sore leg or seek medical attention. But sometimes pain can be fake news. Pain can be the brain misreading signals, as in fibromyalgia. This common disorder is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain along with fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Clues to fibromyalgia Several illnesses … Read More
Childhood Obesity: New Study on Microbes
Our children are getting fatter. Too much food and not enough exercise are the chief culprits for this global epidemic. Among other contributors, the microbiome is under suspicion. Studies done mostly in animals but also some humans suggest why the microbiome is involved. Microbes: mechanisms of action in obesity Increasing energy harvest Changing host metabolism Activation of innate immunity Lowering … Read More
Probiotics Get the Party Started
Traditional holiday feasts are not so microbe-friendly. A week of high fat and sugar treats can throw your gut microbes into a tailspin, possibly weakening your immune system just in time for flu season. Repeat this mantra: Healthy can be delicious. And try these ideas below to keep those friendly microbes merry this season. Menu ideas Substitute low-fat yogurt or … Read More
Journalists Get Schooled on the Microbiome
The popular press has discovered probiotics. Barely a week goes by when a provocative story doesn’t herald the ups and downs of microbiome research. Often these headlines feel like a wild ride on a roller coaster when the science is actually far less dramatic. For example, two recent studies published in the September 6th issue of Cell by scientists at … Read More
Are Diseases Marked by Different Microbiota?
More health and less disease—that’s the goal for all this money and manpower spent on microbiome research. And yes, scientists have identified clear links between dysbiosis and multiple diseases. But the landscape gets more complicated —though no less promising– when dysbiosis is put under the microscope. In Meta-analysis of gut microbiome studies identifies disease-specific and shared responses, Claire Duvallet of Massachusetts … Read More
Inulin: A Prebiotic to Remember
If you can’t recall the top food sources of inulin, keep reading. Soluble fiber such as inulin—a prebiotic—may offset dysbiosis common in aging, potentially leading to mental benefits such as improving memory. These fibers can’t be digested but they can be fermented; bacteria feast on them like guests raiding your pantry and in the process, leave behind short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Inulin is especially adept at creating a … Read More
Dr. Sathish Subramanian on Microbe Immaturity and Malnutrition
Plumpy’ Nut may have a silly name but its mission—to feed malnourished children—is deadly serious. This ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF in aid circles) made of milk powder, sugar, oil, peanut paste, vitamins and minerals along with locally made mixtures has succeeded in reducing deaths in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in poor countries. Immature Microbes Linger after … Read More
Dr. Erika Isolauri Talks Child Health at Harvard Probiotics Symposium
“For child health, I have learned, the mother is the person to treat. The healthier the mother, the better the child’s well-being.” Dr. Erika Isolauri, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics at University of Turku has researched the microbiota from her lab in Finland for long enough to earn the soundbite. With over 440 scientific publications to her name, she spoke … Read More
Harvard Symposium 2018: IPA Reports from Boston
Every two years, this two-day symposium invites top researchers from across the globe to share current evidence from the probiotic space. Harvard Symposium 2018 focused on gut microbes and probiotics and their impact on health throughout life. Specific periods addressed include pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adulthood, and older adults. The program was held October 10-11 in Boston at Harvard Medical School. … Read More
IPA Heads to Harvard
IPA is excited to be attending “Gut Health, Microbiota & Probiotics throughout the Lifespan: Dietary Influences” at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts this week. The two-day symposium invites top researchers from across the globe to share current evidence related to gut microbes and probiotics and their impact on health throughout life. Specific periods addressed include pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adulthood, … Read More