The absence of one specific bacterial species in the gut is associated with the development of social behaviour that falls within a range of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), according to a study in mice.
Intestinal bacteria play a key role in causing and preventing obesity and neurodegeneration and a study has suggested they could also reduce cancer risk.
“Food companies will be able to use the knowledge that we develop.”
A 30-party, EU-backed project is investigating the human microbiome to better understand how gut microbial populations are affected by nutritional inputs – and its effect on human health factors like obesity and metabolism.
Dispatches from the IPA World Congress in Athens, Greece
Evidence is building that links the gut microbiome and brain function and ‘psychobiotics’ are at the heart of that, says a leading Irish researcher working in the field for more than five years.