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Study suggests skipping sweets during antibiotic treatment may help protect the gut microbiome

A large clinical study found that patients who consumed more sweets while taking antibiotics experienced a greater loss of microbiome diversity, with a 24% drop in bacterial diversity for every 100-gram increase in sweets. Preserving microbiome diversity has been linked to improved clinical outcomes for cancer patients.

SourceCity of Hope·JournalNature·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 30, 2026

Brain aging may be detected decades before symptoms appear, with links to gut health

A new UCLA study has found a connection between brain aging and gut biology, suggesting that people's brains may be aging decades before symptoms appear. The study, published in eBioMedicine, analyzed brain scans and stool samples to identify a link between brain communication patterns, gut bacteria, and brain aging.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2026

As probiotic use surges, microbiome-supportive food consumption stagnates

A study found that probiotic supplement use increased 287% among adults and 786% among young people, while fiber intake remained unchanged, between 2009 and 2023. Probiotic users consumed more high-microbial foods and fiber content than non-users, but these beneficial diet habits may be decreasing due to supplement use.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2026

What happens when a shoreline scavenger consumes microplastics?

Researchers found altered gene expression in wharf roach guts after consuming expanded polystyrene, but no significant impact on lifespan. The gut microbiome showed little change, but rare microbes were detected in EPS-fed specimens. This highlights the need to manage EPS waste carefully and prioritize coastal cleanup efforts.

SourceKyushu University·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2026

German cockroaches appear to be more social animals than previously thought

Researchers discovered that newborn German cockroaches use pheromones in feces to recognize their own colony and form a kind of social bond. This behavior was found to be mediated by both innate attraction to conspecific fecal odor and learned preferences for specific odorants encountered during coprophagy soon after they hatch.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

Floating colonies: engineering three-dimensional microbial architectures in liquid cultures

A new liquid-based platform called 'floatony' can form and maintain complex three-dimensional microbial structures while preserving molecular diffusion, spatial structures, and cell mobility. This approach could offer new ways to study gut microbiota, biofilms, and other spatially organized microbial communities.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalBiofabrication·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Your gut can get jet lag too

Research suggests that time zone changes disrupt the synchronization between human biological clocks and gut microbiota, leading to digestive complaints, poorer sleep quality, and reduced energy levels. Gradually adjusting one's biological clock through light exposure and meal timing before departure can help reduce jet lag effects.

SourceWroclaw Medical University·JournalNutrients·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 23, 2026

Fructooligosaccharide alleviate hyperuricemia: Gut microbial interactions drive uric acid degradation via a novel mechanism

Researchers discovered that fructooligosaccharide induces the selective enrichment of Anaerotruncus colihominis, a UA-degrading bacterium, via modulation of the gut microbiota. This interaction alleviates oxidative damage to the kidney and offers a new therapeutic rationale for prebiotic-based management of hyperuricemia

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

When it comes to brain health, is microbiome science missing much of the world?

A new study argues that the microbiome-gut-brain axis has been predominantly studied in wealthy, industrialised nations, limiting scientific discovery. The authors call for greater international collaboration and investment in research infrastructure to uncover universal biological principles that can improve mental health worldwide.

SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 20, 2026

New study reveals how birth method and antibiotics may shape babies' gut bacteria

A systematic review found that babies born by caesarean section or exposed to antibiotics around the time of birth tend to have differences in their gut bacteria composition, with less diversity and beneficial bacterial groups less abundant. Exclusively breastfed infants appear to show a partial restoration of microbial balance.

SourceBournemouth University·JournalBMJ Paediatrics Open·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 9, 2026

Fasting primes gut microbiome to improve intestinal recovery after radiation treatment

A new preclinical study has identified a gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, that helps prime intestinal stem cells for faster recovery after radiation treatment. Fasting increases the population of this bacterium, which produces a small molecule that changes histone tags to allow gene expression in intestinal cells.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 9, 2026

Gut bacteria linked to frailty in older women

A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a clear link between the composition of gut bacteria and frailty in older women. The research found that lower gut bacterial diversity and impaired function are associated with increased vulnerability to disease, falls, functional impairment, and death.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJul 8, 2026

Gut bacteria linked to malnutrition may pass to younger generations

A new study found that specific gut bacteria from children with stunted growth can be passed to their offspring, causing inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. The researchers identified Campylobacter concisus as a key contributor to this process, which may hold promise for future treatment and prevention strategies.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 8, 2026

DNA samples from foraging honeybees, bees in the hive, and their honey are complementary in understanding honeybee ecology, revealing their microbial and plant interactions over time

Researchers analyzed DNA samples from foraging honeybees, hive workers, and their honey to understand plant-microbe interactions in honeybee ecology. The study found that these complementary sources provide distinct insights into the complex relationships between plants, microbes, and honeybees.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateJul 8, 2026

Healthy infant microbiomes appear to protect against malaria

A study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology found that healthy infant gut microbiomes are linked to reduced risk of malaria. Babies with beneficial microbes like Bifidobacterium were less likely to develop the disease. However, further research is needed to confirm this association.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 24, 2026

Gut fungi may hold the key to treating Asthma worldwide

Two studies found that certain fungal species in the gut play a key role in immune dysregulation and pediatric allergic diseases, positioning the infant mycobiome as a promising target for therapies. Infants' early-life antibiotic use may have a direct impact on these fungi, leading to immune dysregulation and allergic asthma.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 23, 2026

Postbiotic foods for improving gum health

Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo found that postbiotic foods can improve gum health in adults with mild gingivitis, reducing gum bleeding and inflammation. The study suggests a simple way to support oral health without altering oral care habits.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of Periodontology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 17, 2026

Clarifying the interplay between host and gut microbiota in selenium metabolism

Researchers investigated the interplay between host and gut microbiota in selenium metabolism, finding that gut microbiota transform selenium into metabolites influencing utilization, detoxification, and excretion. The study also revealed that Se intake affects bacterial diversity and that gut microbes produce unique selenometabolites.

SourceChiba University·JournalFood Bioscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2026

You are what you eat — or are you?

A new mathematical model developed by Arizona State University researchers estimates how much of the calories people absorb from food, considering the role of gut microbes. The model, DAMM, suggests that short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbes contribute to an average of about 140 calories per day.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Colorectal cancer risk linked to gut microbiome alterations

A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that gut microbiome alterations persist even after adenoma removal, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers discovered that diet and physical activity were closely tied to CRC-associated gut microbes, suggesting lifestyle habits may contribute to sustained risk.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Modern medicine makes gut microbial diversity plummet

A study reveals that medical exposure can rapidly change the human microbiome, with gut microbes shifting toward patterns more commonly seen in urban populations. The research found a decline in microbial diversity and a shift towards bacterial groups more common in industrialized societies.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2026