Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 29437527
Link to DOI – 10.1080/19490976.2017.1421885
Gut Microbes 2018 Feb; 9(3): 1-4
The intestinal tract is inhabited by a large and diverse community of bacteria, collectively referred to as the gut microbiota. Composed of 500-1000 distinct species, the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in immunity and metabolism. However, alterations in its composition are associated with a variety of inflammatory diseases including obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among many other factors, our diet impacts microbiota composition and function, in either beneficial or detrimental ways. In this addendum, we will discuss our recent findings on how dietary emulsifying agents can directly and detrimentally impact the microbiota, leading to inflammatory diseases and cancer.