Microbiota and your gut type
Microbiota and your gut type
Inspiration to write this note came from one of the classes with my Ayurvedic nutrition teachers - Ayurvedic Doctor Prof. Dr. Shivenarain Gupta MD (Ayu) and Ayurvedic therapist Oliver Becker.
Microbiota is a collection of microorganisms living in the human intestine. The number of publications on the topic of human microbiota research is growing every year and in 2019 there were more than 9500. Microbiota directly affects metabolism, immunity, endocrine and nervous systems, propensity to diseases (diabetes, obesity, autoimmune, etc.), psychological state, synthesis of vitamins and amino acids.
It is interesting to note the similarity between the knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine and modern research in relation to the existence of various types of intestines. What modern science discovered only in the 21st century has been known in Ayurvedic medicine for several thousand years (the oldest Ayurvedic manuscripts are stored in the library of the University of Tubingen in Germany).
Scientific articles – depending on the predominant bacteria type Bacteroides, Prevotella or Ruminococcus - distinguish 3 types of intestines ("entorotype"), which may explain why different people metabolize nutrients differently. The enterotype does not depend on gender, age, nationality and dietary habits. However, the scientific literature notes that further research is needed to confirm these findings.
In the classical texts of Ayurvedic medicine, 3 types of intestines are also distinguished, which often do not depend on the type of metabolism:
1. SENSITIVE – mrdu-koshta
This is what in modern medicine is called food intolerance or sensitivity (not to be confused with allergies). Typical is "soft" stool 2-3 times a day. In scientific studies, people with "soft" stools "(determined according to the Bristol Scale, see illustration below) are dominated by the enetotype Prevotella.
2. MEDIUM– madhya-koshta
Well-formed bowel movements are typical 1–2 times a day.
3. INSENSITIVE– krura-koshta
It is characterized by a tendency to constipation. In scientific research in people with "hard" stools the enetrotype Ruminococcus predominates.
Among other factors, in Ayurvedic medicine, knowledge of bowel type influences recommendations for food choices and dosage of medications.
Above shows that it is interesting to combine nutrition science with Ayurveda for personalized approach in nutrition.
Bristol stool chart
Scientific articles – depending on the predominant bacteria type Bacteroides, Prevotella or Ruminococcus - distinguish 3 types of intestines ("entorotype"), which may explain why different people metabolize nutrients differently. The enterotype does not depend on gender, age, nationality and dietary habits. However, the scientific literature notes that further research is needed to confirm these findings.
In the classical texts of Ayurvedic medicine, 3 types of intestines are also distinguished, which often do not depend on the type of metabolism:
1. SENSITIVE – mrdu-koshta
This is what in modern medicine is called food intolerance or sensitivity (not to be confused with allergies). Typical is "soft" stool 2-3 times a day. In scientific studies, people with "soft" stools "(determined according to the Bristol Scale, see illustration below) are dominated by the enetotype Prevotella.
2. MEDIUM– madhya-koshta
Well-formed bowel movements are typical 1–2 times a day.
3. INSENSITIVE– krura-koshta
It is characterized by a tendency to constipation. In scientific research in people with "hard" stools the enetrotype Ruminococcus predominates.
Among other factors, in Ayurvedic medicine, knowledge of bowel type influences recommendations for food choices and dosage of medications.
Above shows that it is interesting to combine nutrition science with Ayurveda for personalized approach in nutrition.
Bristol stool chart
Sources:
1. Arumugam, Manimozhiyan et al. Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome. Nature vol. 473,7346 (2011): 174-80. doi:10.1038/nature09944
2. Cheng M, Ning K. Stereotypes About Enterotype: the Old and New Ideas. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2019 Feb;17(1):4-12. doi: 10.1016/j.gpb.2018.02.004.
3. Costea, Paul I et al. Enterotypes in the landscape of gut microbial community composition. Nature microbiology vol. 3,1 (2018): 8-16. doi:10.1038/s41564-017-0072-8
4. Li, D., Gao, C., Zhang, F. et al. Seven facts and five initiatives for gut microbiome research. Protein Cell 11, 391–400 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-020-00697-8
5. S. J. Lewis & K. W. Heaton (1997) Stool Form Scale as a Useful Guide to Intestinal Transit Time,Scandinavian Journal of astroenterology, 32:9, 920-924, DOI: 10.3109/00365529709011203
6. Vandeputte D, Falony G, Vieira-Silva S, et al. Stool consistency is strongly associated with gut microbiota richness and composition, enterotypes and bacterial growth rates. Gut 2016;65:57-62.
1. Arumugam, Manimozhiyan et al. Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome. Nature vol. 473,7346 (2011): 174-80. doi:10.1038/nature09944
2. Cheng M, Ning K. Stereotypes About Enterotype: the Old and New Ideas. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2019 Feb;17(1):4-12. doi: 10.1016/j.gpb.2018.02.004.
3. Costea, Paul I et al. Enterotypes in the landscape of gut microbial community composition. Nature microbiology vol. 3,1 (2018): 8-16. doi:10.1038/s41564-017-0072-8
4. Li, D., Gao, C., Zhang, F. et al. Seven facts and five initiatives for gut microbiome research. Protein Cell 11, 391–400 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-020-00697-8
5. S. J. Lewis & K. W. Heaton (1997) Stool Form Scale as a Useful Guide to Intestinal Transit Time,Scandinavian Journal of astroenterology, 32:9, 920-924, DOI: 10.3109/00365529709011203
6. Vandeputte D, Falony G, Vieira-Silva S, et al. Stool consistency is strongly associated with gut microbiota richness and composition, enterotypes and bacterial growth rates. Gut 2016;65:57-62.
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Personal identification information is considered strictly confidential by www.ilonagaspar.com and will not be sold or passed on to third parties. www.ilonagaspar.com adopts appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information and data stored on the website.
When accessing our web pages, the following data is stored in log files: IP address, date, time, browser request and general transmitted information about the operating system resp. Browser. These usage data form the basis for statistical, anonymous evaluations.
www.ilonagaspar.com uses cookies to track how user engagement with the website in order to continue to improve the website and provide a better online experience.
This website also uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (Google). Google Analytics uses so-called cookies, text files that are stored on your computer and that allow an analysis of the use of the website by you. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if IP anonymisation is enabled on this website, Google will truncate your IP address beforehand within member states of the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the US and shortened there. Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity for website operators, and provide other services related to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties if required by law or as far as third parties process this data on behalf of Google. The IP address provided by Google Analytics as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data. You can prevent the installation of cookies by setting your browser software accordingly; However, please be aware that in this case you may not be able to fully use all the features of this website.
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