methylenewhite
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The new research from the team at Stanford suggests that a key reason may be the lack of particular gut microbes.
They found that a key difference was the presence of a type of bile acid in the intestines, which was in far greater quantities in those with FAP than in those with ulcerative colitis.
These bile acids are a natural part of a healthy gut and help break down fats.
In the intestines, bacteria convert these bile acids to secondary bile acids.
The scientists were able to identify a specific bacterial family called Ruminococcaceae that was underrepresented in those with ulcerative colitis.
Ruminococcaceae bacteria are the main type of microbe that converts primary bile acids into secondary bile acids.
As Dr. Aida Habtezion, an associate professor and senior author of the study, notes: “All healthy people have Ruminococcaceae in their intestines. But in the [ulcerative colitis] pouch patients, members of this family were significantly depleted.”
The team then gave acid supplements to mice who had ulcerative colitis to replace any missing secondary bile acids. This reduced inflammation as well as the normal symptoms of colitis in mice.
Gut microbes could be key to treating ulcerative colitis
They found that a key difference was the presence of a type of bile acid in the intestines, which was in far greater quantities in those with FAP than in those with ulcerative colitis.
These bile acids are a natural part of a healthy gut and help break down fats.
In the intestines, bacteria convert these bile acids to secondary bile acids.
The scientists were able to identify a specific bacterial family called Ruminococcaceae that was underrepresented in those with ulcerative colitis.
Ruminococcaceae bacteria are the main type of microbe that converts primary bile acids into secondary bile acids.
As Dr. Aida Habtezion, an associate professor and senior author of the study, notes: “All healthy people have Ruminococcaceae in their intestines. But in the [ulcerative colitis] pouch patients, members of this family were significantly depleted.”
The team then gave acid supplements to mice who had ulcerative colitis to replace any missing secondary bile acids. This reduced inflammation as well as the normal symptoms of colitis in mice.
Gut microbes could be key to treating ulcerative colitis
