https://medicalxpress.com/gastroenterology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Gastroenterology 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 Researchers at McMaster University have discovered that a naturally occurring hormone best known for suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss also helps protect the liver from inflammation through a previously unknown signaling pathway, opening new possibilities for treating advanced fatty liver disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-appetite-suppressing-hormone-liver-inflammation.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:08 EDT news705587701 Microplastics have become nearly impossible to avoid. They have been detected in oceans, drinking water and even the human body, but scientists are still uncovering how they affect human health. Now, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have uncovered evidence that one of the world's most common plastics may do more than pollute the environment. Their findings suggest that polyethylene may contribute to fatty liver disease and worsen the condition when combined with an unhealthy diet. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-everyday-packaging-plastic-compound-fatty.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 20:40:01 EDT news705030100 Digestion is hard on the cells that line the human gut, and they are constantly being shed and replaced. This renewal is driven by a population of tireless stem cells. These stem cells can both replace the various types of intestinal cells that have been lost and renew themselves. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-molecular-gut-colorectal-cancer-hijacks.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:20:03 EDT news705165901 The trillions of microorganisms living in our intestine influence our health, from digestion and metabolism to immunity. Yet scientists still struggle to understand how these microbes shape these important physiological functions because gut microbiomes are extraordinarily complex, redundant, and dynamic. New technologies are therefore essential for advancing microbiome research. Researchers at the University of Vienna have now reported effective strategies for simultaneously measuring thousands of microbial and host proteins. The findings have been published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-gut-protein-captures-microbial-host.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:00:05 EDT news704985482 The gut and brain are in constant conversation, exchanging signals that regulate hunger and digestion, as well as the body's response to stress. But when that communication breaks down, the consequences can include chronic digestive disorders, which affect millions of people worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-digital-twin-gut-brain-axis.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:20:08 EDT news704980141 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 Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered blood test that accurately detected liver cancer in people from two geographically and biologically distinct populations and uncovered the underlying biological signals that make the test effective. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ai-blood-assay-liver-cancer.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:00:07 EDT news704634122 A "leaky gut" might increase the severity of food allergies, according to new research conducted in mice and published in The Journal of Immunology. The researchers found that changes to the gut microbiome in mice were linked to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and increased food allergy severity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-leaky-gut-food-allergies-worse.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:10:01 EDT news704549762 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