Gut bacteria use food cues to help time nutrient absorption, study finds
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered that gut bacteria use food intake as a signal to regulate the body's circadian rhythms. These bacteria produce molecules that help intestinal cells optimize nutrient absorption based on when a person eats.
Why it matters
This finding establishes a new link between the microbiome and metabolism, potentially offering new insights into treating obesity and other metabolic health issues.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Biological clocks are often associated with light. Historically, most people started their days when the sun was up and ended their days when the sun set. But new research from Carnegie Mellon University suggests that some of the body's most important timekeepers live in the gut.
A study led by Zheng Kuang, the Eberly Family associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, showed that gut bacteria can detect when people eat and send signals that help intestinal cells absorb nutrients at the right time of day. The findings reveal a previously unknown link between the microbiome, circadian rhythms and metabolism.
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