4 Impact of dysbiosis on health

As you have seen from the previous sections, the relationship between the gut microbiome and human host is truly symbiotic. The anatomy, physiology and health of the human host affects the composition and functioning of the microbiome, which in turn has an impact on many different structures and processes within the human body.

It is becoming increasingly clear that an alteration or reduction in the diversity of microbiota, or dysbiosis, is linked to several very common health conditions. These health conditions can often be debilitating or life-threatening, so understanding the role of the microbiome in their development will not only improve the design of better treatment plans but may also help to reduce the risk of developing these conditions in the first place.

In the next few sections, you will explore some of the conditions known to be linked to dysbiosis in more detail. You will then finish this course by looking at some of the current ways that the microbiome can be modified to improve patient outcomes and some potential future treatment options.

Two common conditions affecting the GI tract are inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Sometimes, these two terms are used interchangeably among the general public, and although some symptoms may overlap, they are very different disorders, with very different treatments and prognosis, as you will learn next.