THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR MICROBIOME AND DIGESTIVE DISCOMFORT 

VIDEO

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The gut microbiome is a dense and diverse ecosystem

The gut microbiome contributes to brain function and mood regulation. Depression is a mental disorder affecting over 264 million people of all ages worldwide. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

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What is the role of the microbiome in immunity?

The gut microbiome (with its roughly 10 trillion bacteria) helps protect us from pathogens through a barrier effect: by adhering to the intestinal mucosa, beneficial bacteria prevent pathogenic microorganisms from colonizing the gut.

The gut microbiome sustains its own metabolism by drawing from our food (especially dietary fibers). At the same time, the microorganisms it contains play a direct role in digestion: they ferment substrates and indigestible food residues.

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The microbiome is established at birth and evolves based on various factors such as diet (fiber intake) or antibiotic treatments. The gut microbiome is essential for immunity and digestion. Some bacteria have anti-inflammatory properties.

Our microbiome also plays a role in nervous and behavioral development.
A healthy gut microbiome helps combat symptoms associated with depression.

It has been shown that individuals with obesity have less diverse microbiomes: the bacterial strains in their gut are less varied than in non-obese individuals, and this depletion worsens with obesity.

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Restoring gut flora can relieve gastrointestinal issues in the long term and help achieve a healthy gut microbiome.

Just as stress affects the gut and microbiome by engaging neural and hormonal pathways, these pathways work both ways. In fact, the vagus nerve is 90% composed of ascending fibers, meaning it carries messages from the gut to the brain.

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The vagus nerve enables direct communication between the gut microbiome and the brain. 

Scientists have gone beyond this observation, exploring potential therapeutic avenues.

Stress is also managed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a complex system involved in regulating neuroendocrine responses to stress. Its activation triggers the production of the “stress hormone” – cortisol. Adrenaline also plays a significant role in managing and reducing stress.

The majority of autistic children show microbiome imbalances or dysbiosis.
 

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What is the link between digestive discomfort and the gut microbiome?

“I have abdominal pain after meals.”
“I often experience digestive issues, and I don’t understand why.”

If these statements resonate with you, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from an imbalance in your gut microbiome or your liver – discover more HERE!

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What is the gut microbiome, beyond a dense and diverse ecosystem?

A microbiome is a collection of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, fungi, etc.) forming a complex ecosystem living in symbiosis with the host organism.

We don’t have just one microbiome but several: on the skin, genitals, lungs, mouth, etc.
The most well-known and studied today is the gut microbiome (also called gut flora). It weighs between one and five kilograms and hosts 10 to 100 trillion microorganisms!

The gut microbiome is mainly located in the small intestine and colon: the stomach, being highly acidic, hosts 100 million times fewer bacteria than the colon.

Like a fingerprint, the gut microbiome is unique to each individual, characterized by the diversity and number of microorganisms it contains.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN US AND OUR MICROBIOME

We live in symbiosis with this dense and diverse ecosystem: it couldn’t survive without us, and we couldn’t survive without it!

A system that evolves throughout life
The diversity and colonization of the gut microbiome evolve from birth to the end of life.
In the fetus, the gut microbiome is nonexistent: bacteria begin colonizing the digestive tract within hours of birth. At this stage, the microbiome is not very diverse. It’s during growth and dietary diversification that the microbial population gradually builds.
In adulthood, the gut microbiome remains relatively stable, but in older individuals, a decrease in diversity is observed.

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What is the role of the gut microbiome?

The gut microbiome plays several essential roles in our body:

Metabolic role
It contributes to food digestion by:

• Fermenting undigested food residues in the colon

• Producing enzymes that aid in food digestion

• Absorbing certain nutrients

It also synthesizes essential vitamins (K, B12, choline) for our health.

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Barrier role
It has a protective role by naturally sorting between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria and producing antimicrobial substances.

Defense role
It stimulates our immune system by activating immune cells (70% of which are located at the intestinal barrier). It helps the immune system develop and function properly.

Maintenance role
It ensures the permeability of our intestinal mucosa by influencing its structure.

How do you know if you have a healthy microbiome?
It’s all about balance!
For optimal functioning, the gut microbiome must maintain a balance between “friendly” and pathogenic bacteria, stability in its composition, and a wide variety of beneficial bacteria.
For example, a healthy individual’s gut microbiome consists of around 160 bacterial species.

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What destroys gut flora?
Despite relative stability in adulthood, several factors can disrupt the gut microbiome’s balance, including:

• An unbalanced diet, especially one high in ultra-processed foods

• Antibiotic use, which disrupts and sometimes destroys non-pathogenic bacteria

• Poor lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.)

• Stress

• Pollution

• Sedentary lifestyle

These factors can lead to more or less lasting changes in the microbiome.

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What are the consequences of an imbalanced gut microbiome?
When the balance between pathogenic and beneficial bacteria is disrupted and/or microbial diversity decreases, it’s called dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis impairs the normal functioning of the gut microbiome: it hinders proper food digestion, metabolite synthesis, weakens the immune system, and alters intestinal permeability. The impact on gut comfort is multifaceted:

• Abdominal cramps

• Bloating

• Slowed transit

• Loose stools

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Beyond these temporary discomforts, dysbiosis can contribute to more serious conditions like digestive disorders (Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome) or metabolic diseases (diabetes, obesity).

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In conclusion, the quality of our gut microbiome is a good indicator of our overall health. 

A healthy gut microbiome is balanced and diverse. How can we restore its balance?

¹ The hidden powers of the microbiome, the population of our intestines. 2022, CNRS Journal