https://medicalxpress.com/digestive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Digestive Health A compound produced by bacteria in many people's digestive tracts increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and speeds cognitive decline in dementia patients, making it a potential target for a treatment that could reduce Alzheimer's risk, according to a new study published in Nature Communications https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-gut-alzheimer.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:40:01 EDT news705843563 Organs don't just grow in early life; they can change in response to physiological or environmental challenges in adulthood. Researchers have now identified an active role for the intestinal muscles in remodeling the gut after reproduction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-female-gut-muscles-reshape-demands.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:40:03 EDT news705753421 Eating a wide variety of plants every day could be more beneficial to the microbiome than taking a standard probiotic. New research led by scientists from King's College London and ZOE found that consuming a daily blend with more than 30 different plants resulted in increased populations of "favorable" gut bacteria compared with a probiotic control. The work is published in the British Journal of Nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-wide-variety-day-beneficial-probiotic.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:20:05 EDT news704722441 Scientists at the UC Davis School of Medicine have identified a naturally occurring metabolite that repairs gut damage caused by HIV infection and significantly improves the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a nonhuman primate model of HIV/AIDS. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-probiotic-derived-bioactive-metabolite-reverses.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:00:03 EDT news704646164 Every day in the urban slums of Mumbai, hundreds of young children were fed toddler-appropriate porridge, soft curry or fresh-baked goods. For some, these were made of ordinary pearl millet, an ancient grain common in the Indian diet. For others, they were made of a specially bred variety packed with nearly three times the iron and more zinc than typical grain. The difference was largely imperceptible on the palate. But deep in the children's guts, something meaningful was beginning to happen. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-supercharged-millet-children-gut-health.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:00:06 EDT news704646035 Yoga is best known for improving flexibility, building strength and reducing stress. Research suggests it may also help ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common digestive disorder that affects millions of people. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-yoga-relieve-bowel-syndrome-symptoms.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:06 EDT news704613961 New Northwestern Medicine research published in Nature Communications suggests that a metabolite produced by gut bacteria when they digest dietary fiber can leave a lasting molecular imprint on intestinal cells, promoting immune tolerance and protecting against inflammatory bowel disease-like conditions long after exposure ends. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-bacteria-intestinal-memory-inflammation.html Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:20:09 EDT news704540106 Plant-based diets are good for you. They promote gut, immune, metabolic and cardiovascular health, in part by cultivating a diverse community of intestinal bacteria. These benefits have long been known to stem partly from the fiber in plant-based foods, which is processed by our commensal gut bacteria, and the often brightly colored "phytochemicals" plants produce to protect themselves from environmental threats. But much remains to be learned about how exactly the bugs in our bellies process the constituents of vegetables to such salubrious effect. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-overlooked-proteins-boost-gut-health.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:20:01 EDT news704463121 Doctors recommend dietary fiber for healthy digestion, but to benefit from it, people not only need specific species of gut bacteria but also the right strains of those bacteria to process the starches, according to a new study that advances the promise of precision nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-dietary-fiber-digestion-gut-bacteria.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:20:03 EDT news704375461 Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years, with a wave of new products promising gut health benefits and low-calorie enjoyment. According to a new analysis, however, many of these beverages contain relatively little prebiotic fiber and more sugar than marketing claims might imply. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-prebiotic-sodas-typically-sugar-fiber.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:30:03 EDT news704101940 A dream vacation, an exotic destination, a long-haul flight and finally some well-deserved rest. The problem is that many travelers arrive at their destination only to spend the first days of their vacation struggling with fatigue, sleep disturbances, low energy levels and digestive issues. Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University point out that these symptoms may be caused by more than classic jet lag. A growing body of evidence suggests that time zone changes also affect the trillions of bacteria living in our intestines. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-jet-lag-days-vacation.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:00:04 EDT news704118902 Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have found that certain gut bacteria are linked to how quickly the body ages, providing new insight into the connection between the gut, health and longevity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-microbiome-reveals-molecular-clues.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:20:04 EDT news704026201 Cambridge researchers have shown how commonly used sweeteners slow the growth of certain gut bacteria. One sweetener in particular—isosteviol—when combined with the antidepressant duloxetine, significantly impaired two important gut bacteria linked to blood sugar regulation and gut health and may affect the body's immune responses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-sweeteners-growth-important-gut-bacteria.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:10:02 EDT news703407320 Scientists at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, have found a link between a bacterium in the gut microbiome (ecosystem) and lupus that could lead to more effective treatment of the disease, described in a study published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-potential-probiotic-treatment-lupus.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:00:03 EDT news701626442 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel movements, estimated to affect between 10% and 15% of people worldwide. Past studies suggest that in many cases this condition is accompanied by anxiety, an emotional state marked by worry, fear and/or overthinking about specific life events. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-species-gut-bacteria-ease-anxiety.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:02 EDT news701522887 University of Louisville researchers have discovered how a naturally occurring microbial compound may help protect the gut and support future treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-scientists-gut-power-fruits-nuts.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:04 EDT news701538421 Researchers have long suspected that the gut microbiome—the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the intestine—is closely linked to colorectal cancer. In a new study published in Cell Host & Microbe, an international group of researchers from the Mi-EOCRC consortium spanning Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and including the Zeller and Zimmermann groups at EMBL Heidelberg, has carried out one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the colorectal cancer-associated gut microbiome. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-robust-colorectal-cancer-signature-large.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:07 EDT news701522904 A detailed cellular study of Crohn's disease has mapped how gene activity changes across more than 50 cell types in the gut. The study provides an open resource of the genes that characterize each cell type and those whose activity shifts in disease, uncovering new molecular and cellular signatures of immune activity in the gut lining. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-crohn-atlas-gene-shifts-gut.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:40:03 EDT news700752661 A new study is the first to investigate the effects of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on fatty liver in humans. The findings suggest the fiber supplement may reduce harmful metabolic byproducts in the gut and thereby improve liver health. Importantly, the composition of the gut microbiota before supplementation influences the benefits observed. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland and is published in npj Gut and Liver. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-dietary-fiber-supplement-fatty-liver.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:20:07 EDT news700747604 The gut does much more than just digest food. Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered a surprising link between gut function, feeding and sleep in fruit flies. Their study adds to growing evidence that the gut communicates with the brain and can influence behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-newborn-flies-gut-blockage-clues.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:20:01 EDT news700413504 Millions of people worldwide are periodically or chronically affected by gut-related conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastroenteritis. Uncovering the physiological and biological processes that contribute to gut health could thus be highly valuable, as it might help devise more effective interventions to prevent and treat these ailments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gut-microbes-hormone-movement.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:20:08 EDT news700394620 Eating when the body is normally asleep appears to desynchronize the circadian clocks of different cell types in the intestines, a UT Southwestern Medical Center study suggests. The findings, published in PNAS, could help explain why shift work, jet lag and other environmental stressors that affect circadian rhythms are associated with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-middle-night-gastrointestinal-issues.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:20:04 EDT news700225795 Flatulence, or farting, is something people often joke about or find embarrassing when it happens unexpectedly. It is, however, an essential bodily function that allows the digestive system to keep pressure within the intestinal tract low and prevents painful stretching of the stomach and intestines. Even though it is normal to fart, it remains unclear what counts as a healthy number. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-people-gas-app.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:05 EDT news700130400