The gut microbiome – balancing the body
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Contents

  • Introduction
  • 1 What are microbiomes?
    • 1.1 Overview of the gut microbiome
    • 1.2 Balancing the gut microbiome
    • 1.3 Loss of balance – dysbiosis
  • 2 Functions of the gut microbiome
    • 2.1 Metabolic – digestion of food
    • 2.2 Metabolic – production of nutrients
    • 2.3 Metabolism of drugs and xenobiotic chemicals
    • 2.4 Structural integrity of the gut wall
    • 2.5 Protection against pathogens
    • 2.6 Communication within the body
      • 2.6.1 Neural pathway – the microbiota-gut-brain axis
      • 2.6.2 Gut microbiome and hormone signalling
    • 2.7 Gut microbiome and the immune response
    • 2.8 Gut microbiome and stress
  • 3 Factors affecting the gut microbiome
    • 3.1 Genetics of the human host
    • 3.2 Early exposure to microorganisms
    • 3.3 Geographical location and microbiome diversity
    • 3.4 The impact of diet
    • 3.5 Exercise
    • 3.6 Medications
    • 3.7 Infection and disease
    • 3.8 Age and the menopause
  • 4 Impact of dysbiosis on health
    • 4.1 Inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
    • 4.2 Irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
    • 4.3 Obesity and Type 2 diabetes
    • 4.4 Colorectal cancer
    • 4.5 Kidney disease
    • 4.6 Mental health
  • 5 Restoring/maintaining the balance of the gut microbiome
    • 5.1 Prebiotics and probiotics
    • 5.2 Faecal transplant
  • 6 Quiz
  • 7 Summary
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Glossary

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