The bacteria living in the human gut function almost like a second liver, changing how we metabolize glucose and amino acids, according to a new study.
Published in Cell Host and Microbe, the study adds to a growing mountain of research indicating just how much the microbiome influences every aspect of our health.
Thousands of Bacterial Species
The microbiome is a buzzword these days, but it has been around for as long as humans have. This microbial community is made up of a combination of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic organisms living in the mouth, intestines, skin, and beyond. Most microbes in the gut microbiome live inside the cecum, a “pocket” of the large intestine. There are up to 1,000 species of bacteria in the gut microbiome, each with a different role.
A.C. Dahnke
Author
A.C. Dahnke is a freelance writer and editor residing in California. She has covered community journalism and health care news for nearly a decade, winning a California Newspaper Publishers Award for her work.
