September 24, 2019
The human microbiome is a delicate system made up of a huge assortment of microorganisms, and it plays a role in our health. Changing even one of the microorganisms in the microbiome can have a big impact, as has been confirmed recently by a study led by researchers from the Capital Institute of Pediatrics.
A young man sought medical help for a baffling condition that resulted in him becoming intoxicated without consuming alcohol. He reported that after eating certain food, namely meals high in carbohydrates, he would become so drunk he would black out. Research showed that his gut bacteria were synthesizing alcohol from the sugars in his diet, which helped explain why he was showing signs of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition affects roughly one billion people, and results in excess fat in the liver which in some cases can be deadly.
The researchers investigated the microbiome of the patient and found an unusually high level of a bacteria called Klebsiella pneumoniae was present. They then sampled the microbiome of other NAFLD patients and found the same bacteria was present. Further studies showed that patients given glucose or fructose resulted in increased blood alcohol levels. This result suggests administering a blood alcohol test following glucose ingestion could be a simple diagnostic tool for this condition.
Source: Science
Read more: http://ow.ly/iiJc50wieGB
