NutraCast: Dr. Sabine Hazan on personalized approaches to microbiome modulation

Microbiomes have been gaining more attention of late and one key focus is their role in disease and immune function. 

Dr. Sabine Hazan, CEO of Progenabiome and Ventura Clinical Trials joined the NutraCast to discuss her work as a gastroenterologist and clinical trials investigator. 

In 2019, Hazan established ProgenaBiome to investigate the microbiome. The state-of-the-art genetic research sequencing laboratory is equipped with next-generation whole genome shotgun sequencing capabilities. 

Hazan is also the author of the book ‘Let's Talk Sh!t: Disease, Digestion and Fecal Transplants.’ ​

“So I called it that because I wanted transparency. I didn't want to sugarcoat it with microbiome. ‘Let's Talk Microbiome’...I mean people are going to say ‘what the hell is that?’ I wanted to say it as it was, so people can see you know, fecal material matters,”​ explained Hazan. 

Much of Hazan’s work explores next generation hope for heart disease, obesity, autism, Alzheimer’s, and more. Growing research suggests that microbiomes may be the basis for future advances in health and wellness.

“What I'm seeing in the microbiome is a diseased microbiome. We're seeing an increase in autism, increase in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's,MS, ALS, cancer, the microbiome of humanity is getting sicker and sicker. And so we need to have people understand that if it's getting sicker and people are getting diseases, you've got to intercept it now, when you're young and healthy to protect it,”​ said Hazan.

While it's still unclear the roles of each and every microbe, researchers like Dr. Hazan are hoping to preserve them before it’s too late.

“I want people to understand the importance of a good, healthy microbiome [we need] to preserve the microbiome of humanity because if the microbiome of humanity disappears, humanity disappears. Albert Einstein used to say if bees disappear humanity disappears, think about what the bees bring to the world. Not only in fruits and plants that are growing, but also their honey. The pure honey from the bee is the microbiome of the bees. So I think we need to understand that. Also as humans, every thing, every animal that's creating microbiome waste has the power to nourish the planet.”​

To learn more about gut microbiome modulation, listen to the NutraCast.

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