https://medicalxpress.com/digestive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Digestive Health When the intestinal lining breaks down, harmful gut bacterial antigens can slip into the bloodstream alongside nutrients. This breach in the gut's protective barrier, known as "leaky gut," is more than a digestive issue—it's a sign of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and has been increasingly linked to a number of chronic conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-common-food-compound-key-leaky.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:00:04 EDT news699537001 Trillions of microorganisms live in the human gut, collectively forming the gut microbiome. They support important bodily functions, including digestion, metabolism, and the immune system. While this microbial community remains stable for many years, it often becomes unbalanced with age: diversity declines, certain microorganisms gain the upper hand, and the risk of inflammation increases. Why the gut microbiome loses its balance with age is one of the central unanswered questions in aging research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-aging-immune-gut-microbiome.html Wed, 27 May 2026 17:20:04 EDT news699114602 For many people living with HIV, today's treatments can suppress the virus and dramatically improve health. But even when HIV is controlled, damage to the gut caused by the disease can persist, fueling chronic inflammation linked to serious health problems. A new Tulane University study published in JCI Insight helps explain why. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-broccoli-compounds-hiv-linked-gut.html Mon, 25 May 2026 14:20:01 EDT news698933282 Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder characterized by hallucinations, false and rigid beliefs (i.e., delusions), impaired mental functions, disorganized speech and, in some cases, repetitive body movements. This debilitating disorder is typically treated with antipsychotics, medications that alter the signaling between neurons. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-gut-lung-microbe-shifts-clozapine.html Fri, 22 May 2026 08:50:01 EDT news698589397 Chronic abdominal pain affects an estimated 10%–15% of children and is a leading cause of school absence and daily disruption for families. For many children, the experience does more than hurt—it teaches them something potentially harmful: that their bodies cannot be trusted. A new study by researchers at Duke University challenges that assumption, suggesting that how children learn to relate to their bodies may be just as important as how their symptoms are treated. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-kids-chronic-stomach-pain-relief.html Mon, 18 May 2026 08:40:04 EDT news698310021 New research from APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center at University College Cork, has comprehensively explored the mechanisms behind coffee's positive effects on the gut–brain axis for the first time. The study published in Nature Communications reveals how regular consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can affect the gut microbiome, and in turn influence mood and stress levels. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-coffee-reshapes-gut-brain-axis.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:01 EDT news695923921 Analysis of microbes in the gut can reveal whether a person faces an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease, before they have developed any symptoms, suggests a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers. The scientists found that people with Parkinson's disease have a distinctive makeup of gut microbes, as do healthy individuals who are genetically at risk of Parkinson's disease, they report in the new Nature Medicine study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-gut-microbiome-parkinson-disease.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:07 EDT news695651341 A new study published in Stem Cell Reports demonstrates how a human stem cell-derived model of the intestine can be used to identify potential therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), highlighting glycyrrhizin as a promising candidate for reducing intestinal inflammation and cell death. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-black-licorice-compound-slashes-gut.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695548621 Research by Milena Bogunovic, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology, sheds light on how inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as that associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can lead to long-lasting consequences for patients who end up developing functional motility disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the study revealed that intestinal inflammation changes how nerves are arranged in the intestine, which in turn affects how intestinal muscles contract. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-gut-inflammation-rewire-brain-triggering.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:40:07 EDT news694876410 A research team led by scientists from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo, Brazil, has made significant progress in understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal cells. The study, published in the journal Gut Microbes, showed how microbiota and the compounds it produces, such as butyrate, influence the functioning of cells that line the large intestine. This intestinal layer is in close contact with bacteria and produces mucus that contributes to its barrier function, helping to prevent bacteria from entering the body. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-loss-microbiota-profile-cells-intestinal.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:40:04 EDT news694877582 In a preclinical study from Mass General Brigham, researchers have found that even short-term exposure to high levels of dietary fat results in a quick and selective loss of critical gut immune cells called ILC3s, promoting intestinal permeability and inflammation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-highfat-diets-linked-rapid-decline.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:40:02 EDT news694708503 Many people with celiac disease are advised to eat more fiber to support digestion and manage symptoms, either through diet or prescribed fiber supplements. New research from McMaster University shows that the benefits of that fiber may depend on whether the right bacteria are present in the gut to break it down. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-celiac-disease-blunt-high-fiber.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:40:07 EDT news694174081 The origin of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia isn't limited to the brain. The state of your gut can quietly set off a cycle of chronic, system-wide inflammation that nudges the brain toward cognitive decline. But how does the pathogenesis of a disease that seems purely brain-based begin in the gut—an organ that is mostly busy producing chemicals for digesting food? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-boosting-good-gut-bacteria-population.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:00:04 EDT news693564705 Enriching the diet with wheat fiber protects mice against intestinal inflammation, according to a study published by researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) at Georgia State University. The finding helps explain why the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased, and suggests eating whole wheat foods may reduce one's risk of developing it. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-fiber-wheat-foods-gut-inflammation.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:00:01 EDT news693655802