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Gut Microbes Vanished: Are We Sick Because of It?
7 Oct
Summary
- Trillions of gut microbes, once stable, are rapidly declining in industrialized nations.
- Over 600 bacteria species once common are now rare or missing from modern guts.
- Lost microbes may have trained immune systems and aided nutrient synthesis.
The human microbiome, comprising trillions of microbes, has undergone significant changes in industrialized nations, shifting from a stable ecosystem to a concerningly altered one.
Researchers have identified over 600 bacterial species that were once prevalent in human guts but are now rare or absent in most modern societies. Scientists speculate these lost microbes played vital roles, potentially in immune system training and nutrient synthesis.
Studies comparing the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania with the Tsimane people of Bolivia revealed that hunter-gatherer groups maintained a richer diversity of these ancestral microbes. This diversity has largely diminished in populations with modern lifestyles, diets, and medical practices like antibiotic use.
This depletion of ancestral gut bacteria might be linked to the rise of chronic diseases and disorders common in the industrialized world, such as allergies and dementia. While direct restoration of ancient microbiomes is cautioned against due to unknown risks, studying these lost microbes offers insights into essential lost functions.
