Updated

Updated · ScienceDaily · Aug 15

Two Studies Find Fiber Stops Gut Microbes Eating Mucus as Mammals Make Key Metabolites

Updated

Updated · ScienceDaily · Aug 15

Two Studies Find Fiber Stops Gut Microbes Eating Mucus as Mammals Make Key Metabolites

1 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Aug 15

Mouse isotope-tracing showed gut microbes switch to consuming proteins from the gut’s mucus lining when fiber is scarce, driving production of harmful phenols such as p-cresol sulfate and phenol sulfate.
PNAS data found plant fiber and digestion-resistant plant proteins—"Prif"—redirect microbial metabolism toward beneficial phenols from phenylalanine, while reducing breakdown of the protective gut lining.
A June Nature Metabolism study also found many indole and phenol metabolites long attributed to microbes can be produced by mammalian metabolism in mice, rats and human cells.
Antibiotic-treated mice and patient samples still showed high levels of some circulating metabolites, while microbe-only compounds including indole-3-propionate and p-cresol sulfate fell, potentially reshaping diet and probiotic strategies.

Sources

How do newly discovered protein-mimicking fibers trick your microbiome into producing healing compounds instead of toxic chemicals?

Could your low-fiber diet be forcing starving gut bacteria to devour your intestine's protective mucus layer?

If human cells produce gut metabolites on their own, are expensive probiotic supplements actually doing anything for your health?

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