Wellness Foods + Supplements 1/2022

Microbiome
Photo © : Madhouse
Gut health 2.0 – The increasing role
of the microbiome
Diana Kalustova
Super organ, superorganism, or the
forgotten organ – the human microbiome
is called by many names. And
all of them reflect how important this
“community of microorganisms” is for
the natural everyday functioning of the
human body. But what exactly is the
microbiome? And what is it actually
good for?
The human microbiome consists of trillions
of microorganisms. These include
not only bacteria, but also fungi, parasites,
and viruses. While many of the microorganisms
have not yet been identified, scientists
believe that well over 1,000 different ones
live on us and in us. Each person has their
individual fingerprint of the intestinal microbiota,
determined by one’s DNA 1 . However,
some microorganisms are found in each and
every one of us.
The intestine plays a unique role. By far, the most significant part of
the human microbiome is found here. This is where a high microbial
density meets the intestine-associated lymphoid tissue, which
controls the entire body’s immune response.
Microbes are generally not harmful to us. Rather, they are essential
for maintaining good health. For example, they produce specific vitamins,
break down our food to extract nutrients, teach our immune
system to recognize dangerous invaders, and produce helpful antiinflammatory
compounds that ward off other disease-causing
microbes.
It is not only experts who recognize the ever-increasing importance
of the microbiome. Consumers also embrace the microbiome as an
opportunity to maintain and improve their health. As a result, market
research provider Fortune Business Insights predicts that the global
digestive health market will grow at a compounded annual growth
rate of 7.9 % to reach 71.95 billion US dollars by 2027. Several
factors are driving this growth. One of them is the increasing incidence
of digestive disorders, which are now seen in up to 40 % of the
world’s population.
No. 1 April/May 2022
15