Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have made an important discovery that redraws our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and digestive health, especially in people with diabetes. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Scientists have found that some types of bacteria in the intestines can directly produce serotonin, an essential molecule that regulates bowel movement and affects nerve signals within the digestive system.
This discovery is an important turning point that may open the way to new treatments for IBS using beneficial bacteria.
What is irritable bowel syndrome and what is its relationship to serotonin?
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Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition that affects women more than men, and causes symptoms such as:
Abdominal pain
Constipation
diarrhea
Flatulence
Although its exact cause is unknown, research suggests a clear role for both the gut microbiome and serotonin.
Although serotonin is famous as a transport substance in the brain, more than 90% of its production takes place inside the intestine, where it regulates intestinal muscle movement and digestive processes through what is known as the “enteric nervous system” or the intestinal brain.
Until today, it was known that bacteria affect the amount of serotonin the body produces, but it was not clear whether they were able to produce it themselves.
Discovery of two types of bacteria capable of producing serotonin
In the new study published in Cell Reports, researchers discovered two types of bacteria that work together to produce bioactive serotonin:
Limosilactobacillus mucosae
When these bacteria were introduced into germ-free, serotonin-deficient mice, the researchers observed:
A clear increase in the level of serotonin within the intestine
High density of nerve cells in the colon
Improves bowel movement and returns it to normal
These results indicate a direct role for bacteria in enhancing neural communication in the gastrointestinal tract, an essential element affected in cases of irritable bowel syndrome.
The discovery is linked to irritable bowel syndrome patients
It has also been shown that people with irritable bowel syndrome have a significant deficiency in one of the two types of bacteria (L. mucosae) compared to healthy people, and that these bacteria possess the enzyme necessary to produce serotonin.
Professor Frederik Buckhead from Sahlgrenska Academy says:
“It is amazing how gut bacteria can produce potent biomolecules that have a direct impact on our health.”
While Professor Magnus Simrin, a specialist in gastrointestinal diseases, confirms: “Our results indicate that some bacteria are able to produce active serotonin, which opens new horizons for the treatment of functional digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.”
The future of irritable bowel syndrome: toward a therapeutic probiotic
These findings point to a trend that may revolutionize treatment:
Using beneficial bacteria that produce serotonin as a biological treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
This approach may help:
Regulating bowel movement naturally
Improving nerve signals between the intestines and the brain
Addressing some of the roots of the problem, not just its symptoms
The researchers say this may be the key to a deeper understanding of how the gut microbiome influences the brain and behavior as well, strengthening the concept of the gut-brain axis.
