Digestive Health Overview

DIGESTION D5 Digestive Health

• Digestive disorders are discussed, including causes and treatments
• The concept of the gut microbiome and its role in human health will be introduced
• Canada's Food Guide recommends a balanced diet for the body's metabolic activities
• Food group intake varies by factors like age, gender, and lifestyle
• Ulcer forms when the protective mucus layer in the stomach erodes, often caused by acid-resistant bacteria (Helicobacter pylori)
• Smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and stress can worsen ulcer symptoms
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a general term for intestinal inflammation
• Crohn's Disease, an autoimmune IBD, can affect any part of the digestive tract, often the ileum, and results in painful diarrhea and rectal bleeding
• Colitis, another autoimmune type of IBD, affects the innermost lining of the colon, and results in loose/bloody stool, cramping, skin lesions, and joint pain.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is diagnosed when symptoms are present but no serious underlying cause is found
• Stress is an important factor in IBS
• IBS treatments include laxatives (for constipation), and sometimes antidepressants or a low-FODMAP diet
• Hepatitis is liver inflammation in three types: A (often from contaminated water), B (spread through sexual contact, highly contagious), and C (contracted from contact with infected blood)
• Cirrhosis occurs when scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in the liver, frequently caused by chronic alcoholism and/or Hep C.
• Gallstones are small, hard cholesterol-derived crystals that form in the gallbladder
• Risk factors for gallstones include obesity, alcoholism, and family history.
• Anorexia nervosa involves an intense fear of gaining weight combined with a distorted self-image, a BMI below 85% of recommended, and severe long-term effects like cardiac arrest.
• Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of food restriction followed by binge eating and behaviors meant to purge the body of food and prevent weight gain.

GUT MICROBIOME AND GUT-BRAIN AXIS

• The human microbiome is the community of native bacteria living in and on the human body
• There are 10 times more bacterial cells in the human body than human cells
• The microbiome plays a key role in human health and disease
• Different bacteria perform various functions in different parts of the body
• The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS).
• This is influenced by factors of the gut microbiome, which plays a role in nutrient delivery, motility and secretion
• Microbes produce metabolites like butyrate, which can affect brain cells
• Cytokines can influence neurophysiology, and serotonin produced in the gut may influence signals in the brain.