The Gut-Brain Axis: Microbiota

The microbiota is the term used to describe the microorganism collection that inhabits our bodies. It is a crucial and hugely responsive organ that includes billions of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.

It is estimated that the human body hosts approximately 100 trillion cells. The body contains 10 times more beneficial bacteria than cells, known as the "flora" or "microbiota" of various parts of the body, such as the skin, mouth, vagina, and intestines. The gut microbiota weighs 2 kilograms, and it is now regarded as an organ due to its weight and function.

Besides the brain, the digestive system contains the highest number of nerve cells and nerve networks. This is why the intestines are known as the "second brain." A connection exists between the intestines and the brain. In irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that results in symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and gas, the intestinal microbiota is disrupted. Probiotics also play an effective role in irritable bowel syndrome.

Microbiota can cause infections in children, but they also enhance the immune system and combat disease-causing bacteria and fungi due to their essential vitamin content in the digestive system. The optimal structure of the intestinal bacterial flora is crucial for healthy living. The digestive system possesses the most nerve cells, after the brain, which is why our intestines are referred to as the "second brain". The gut microbiome has been found to impact sleep, mood, and other behaviors. Thus, a healthy gut microbiota is crucial for a healthy and long life. Consequently, there are numerous advantages to determining the content of your gut microbiome.

Modern lifestyle, environmental pollution, chemicals, alcohol, and processed foods can adversely affect the gut microbiota, changing the balance between good and bad bacteria in favor of the bad. This imbalance significantly impacts your overall health. An improper diet, exposure to toxins, lack of sleep, chronic stress, and excessive medication use can throw your microbiota out of balance. Therefore, a range of issues may occur and impact various bodily functions, including the digestive, immune, and endocrine systems, as well as cognitive processes and emotions. Antibiotics can disrupt intestinal flora and lead to weight gain. To avoid this, it is important to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

The role of the intestinal microbiota in human health is fundamentally important due to its creation of a reciprocal relationship between the brain and the intestines. Evidence strongly supports a link between the intestinal microbiota and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, autism, and schizophrenia. Friendly, harmful, and probiotic microorganisms living in the intestinal tract produce neuroactive substances that play a crucial role in the gut-brain axis. Certain probiotic bacteria display anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. This article reviews the impact of intestinal microbiota on the brain, behavior, and psychiatric disorders.

You can apply to our laboratory to have a "Stool Flora Screening Test" that will aid in determining your intestinal microbiota composition and/or get an opinion from our specialist physicians. eLAB Laboratories aims to assist you in treating illnesses with greater precision through the analysis of your child's microbiota using advanced technology.

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