https://medicalxpress.com/digestive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Digestive Health 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 Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a significantly higher risk of psychiatric disorders starting two to three years before diagnosis and lasting up to a decade afterward, according to a nationwide study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-patients-ibd-elevated-psychiatric-disorders.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news705138766 Researchers have developed and evaluated a feedback initiative, returning gut microbiome results from a landmark microbiome study to 778 women in South Africa and Kenya. The results came from the AWI-Gen 2 study published in Nature in 2025, the largest population-representative survey of African gut metagenomes conducted to date. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-african-largest-microbiome-feedback.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:00:08 EDT news704978041 Fermented plant-based foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut could help inspire a new generation of microbiome-informed dietary strategies for supporting oral and gut health, according to a review paper published in Nature Reviews Microbiology. The study, led by investigators at Penn's School of Dental Medicine with collaborators at Penn Medicine, Penn Nursing and Jeonbuk National University in South Korea, examines how fermented foods interact with the microbes that live in the mouth and gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-fermented-food-precision-nutrition-oral.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:00:03 EDT news704964967 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 Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten that affects 1% to 3% of people globally and is caused by a mix of known genetic factors and unknown environmental ones. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gluten-free-diet-reshapes-gut.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:00:03 EDT news704696762 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 The human gut harbors more than 40 trillion bacteria assembled into complex communities collectively known as the gut microbiota, which is closely linked to human health and disease. Mediterraneibacter gnavus (formerly Ruminococcus gnavus) is a commensal bacterium in the Lachnospiraceae family that is normally found in healthy individuals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-microbe-coating-links-intestinal.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:40:07 EDT news704644681 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 Urbanization is one of the most consequential demographic shifts of the 21st century. As communities move from traditional or rural to urbanized ways of life, changes in diet, lifestyle and environmental exposures can influence many aspects of human biology and health. Research has shown that urbanization can alter the gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, but whether this transition follows a common pattern across different global populations has remained unclear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-microbiomes-distinct-trajectories-urbanization.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:20:04 EDT news703946881 A multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis has prompted a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sold by Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-fda-iceberg-lettuce-recall-false.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:20:05 EDT news703781025 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 Colorectal or bowel cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, affecting approximately 1 in 20 Australians. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-youre-young-bowel-cancer.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:30:15 EDT news703326243 Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. People contract cyclosporiasis by consuming food or water contaminated with feces containing Cyclospora parasites. Health officials have reported a notable increase in cases across multiple U.S. states this year compared with the same period in 2025. Since May 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of nearly 850 confirmed domestically acquired cases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-qa-cyclosporiasis-cases.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:11:49 EDT news703228273 More people are focusing on their gut health, as fibermaxxing goes mainstream, colorectal cancer rises among young adults and personalized gut microbiome treatments become increasingly popular. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-people-fermenting-food-millennia-focused.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:44:27 EDT news703046648 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects more than 10% of the general population, causing recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. IBS is considered a disorder of gut-brain interaction, and previous research, including genetic research, has established links to nerve signaling, the nervous system and other conditions including anxiety and mood disorders. The exact biological mechanisms, however, have remained frustratingly difficult to pin down, leaving many patients without effective, targeted treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-genetic-links-ibs-lipid-metabolism.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:00:01 EDT news702712300 A parasite that causes severe, watery diarrhea is spreading across the United States, and health officials in Michigan are racing to explain an unusual surge in cases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-michigan-states-unusual-spike-parasite.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:40:01 EDT news702657817 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 probiotic bioengineered by UBC Okanagan researchers to thrive in the inflamed gut is set to enter human clinical trials in Australia this summer, capping a decade-long effort to turn a beneficial bacterium into a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-probiotic-human-trials.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:00:08 EDT news701080322 Liver cancer is one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer-related deaths in the UK and the third-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-liver-cancer-deaths-rapidly-tackling.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:40:03 EDT news700920302