A Focused Look On The Gut-Brain Axis | Part 1

Introduction

The gut system makes sure that the good bacteria is helping the gut by digesting the consumed food into nutrients for the body and keeping the unwanted pathogens from causing chronic inflammation to the intestinal permeability barrier. The gut has a pretty good bidirectional connection to the brain as they send signals back and forth to each other while making sure that the body is functional and that everything is working properly. In this 2 part series, we will be taking at what is the gut-brain axis and how does it function in the body. Part 2 will be taking at the different factors that can affect the gut-brain axis. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialized in gastroenterology services. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

 

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is The Gut-Brain Axis?

Also known as the “gut feeling” in the body, the gut-brain axis as research shows that the gut-brain axis has consisted of bidirectional communication between the central and enteric nervous system. The brain sends signals to the gut to make sure that everything is working properly and vice versa. Other studies have also shown that gut microbes actually communicate to the central nervous system through at least 3 parallel interactive channels that include the nervous, endocrine, and immune signaling mechanisms that make the body functional. When the gut or the brain is being dysfunctional, it can cause many problems in the body and can be developed into chronic issues that will happen over time.

 

The “Forgotten Organ”

 

Research studies have shown that the intestinal microflora is a positive health asset as it is crucially influenced by the normal structural and fundamental development of the mucosal immune system. What this means is that the bacteria density increases in the jejunum/ileum from the stomach and duodenum. In the large intestine, there are colon-residing bacteria that achieve the highest cell densities recorded for any ecosystem, whether it is the gut or the brain. Other studies have shown that the resident microorganisms in the body establish in their respective colonies while performing a variety of vital functions in the body by exerting a range of protective, structural, and metabolic effects on the intestinal mucosa.

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HCTP Therapy

Stem cells* or HCTP (human cellular tissue products) are a form of regenerative medicine that both international and nationally affiliated clinics and distribution organizations use to help boost the body’s own natural healing process. HCTP has beneficial properties by repairing cells, diseased organs, and tissues back to their original state and function in the body. With more and upcoming research about the beneficial properties of HCTP, many individuals with either neurological disorders or gut issues can be provided with relief.

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Diversity Is The Key For Gut Health

Having diversity in the body is important for gut health as it helps shape a person in the world. The alpha diversity is a measure of the compositional complexity of a community within a site as it increases with the number of present species and with the evenness of their relative abundances in the gut. While the beta diversity looks at the differences in the taxonomic abundance profiles from different samples as presence-absence data are often used to identify which species are shared by samples and which are not. Research studies have shown that the abundance of specific bacterial genera can be significantly predicted by a person’s personality traits. The gut needs bacteria to thrive on the inside as it helps protect the gut from toxins and pathogens that are trying to disturb the microbiota. Other studies have found that when nutritional foods enter the GI microbial ecosystem, it provides macro-and micro-nutrients to the gut microbial as it helps the gut to be diverse, stable, and healthy.

 

Neurodevelopment & The Gut

Studies have found that the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain is established due to the colonization patterns and cognition at the early stages of a person’s life. The brain is part of the central nervous system that makes sure that the information from the gut is being transferred back to the brain. Other studies have been shown that the production of metabolites can help influence the central nervous system and enhanced the integrity of the intestinal epithelial layer through SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids). The SCFAs traveling back and forth through the gut and the brain allows the bacterial strains will decrease the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.

 

Microbiota Regulates Anxiety

 

The gut microbiota actually helps to regulate the body and brain function in the body as it can help monitor the neuron signals that are providing the sensations and emotional signals in the body. Studies have found that when the intestinal flora modulates the gut-brain axis communication, it involves the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system to make it functional. When the intestinal flora is being affected by pathogens though, it can cause a series of changes in the physical and mental symptoms to occur like anxiety. This is due to any inflammation and dysbiosis that has been affecting the gut, as research studies show that any chronic inflammation has been linked to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. When a person has inflammation in the gut, it can cause them pain and suffering as they don’t really know what is going on. By establishing antioxidant-riched foods into the gut system, the inflammation can be dampened and even improve brain health.

 

Conclusion

All in all, the gut-brain axis has a bidirectional connection that makes sure that the gut and the brain are communicating with each other as well as doing their jobs properly. With this bidirectional communication, the gut makes sure that the signaling mechanisms are working properly and that unwanted pathogens are not entering each of the systems. When this happens, both the gut and the brain will begin to be dysfunctional and cause chronic issues to be developed. Utilizing anti-inflammatory foods and exercises can dampen these effects and the individual can begin their life pain-free.

 

References

Carabotti, Marilia, et al. “The Gut-Brain Axis: Interactions between Enteric Microbiota, Central and Enteric Nervous Systems.” Annals of Gastroenterology, Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/.

Clapp, Megan, et al. “Gut Microbiota’s Effect on Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axis.” Clinics and Practice, PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italy, 15 Sept. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/.

Heiman, Mark L, and Frank L Greenway. “A Healthy Gastrointestinal Microbiome Is Dependent on Dietary Diversity.” Molecular Metabolism, Elsevier, 5 Mar. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837298/.

Johnson, Katerina V-A. “Gut Microbiome Composition and Diversity Are Related to Human Personality Traits.” Human Microbiome Journal, Elsevier Ltd, Mar. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8336012/.

Martin, Clair R, et al. “The Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis.” Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier, 12 Apr. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047317/.

O’Hara, Ann M, and Fergus Shanahan. “The Gut Flora as a Forgotten Organ.” EMBO Reports, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1500832/.

Rothenberg, Sarah E, et al. “Neurodevelopment Correlates with Gut Microbiota in a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Children at 3 Years of Age in Rural China.” Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group UK, 1 Apr. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8016964/.

Seo, Dong-Oh, and David M Holtzman. “Gut Microbiota: From the Forgotten Organ to a Potential Key Player in the Pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease.” The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Oxford University Press, 18 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7302187/.

Warner, Barbara B. “The Contribution of the Gut Microbiome to Neurodevelopment and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.” Pediatric Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 Sept. 2018, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30283047/.

Yang, Beibei, et al. “Effects of Regulating Intestinal Microbiota on Anxiety Symptoms: A Systematic Review.” General Psychiatry, BMJ Publishing Group, 17 May 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6551444/.

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