ORLANDO, Fla, (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Hundreds of bacteria are active in our intestines. Good bacteria aids in digestion but there are harmful bacteria that have the potential to make us sick. The collection of both types of bacteria makes up our gut microbiome. Our overall health is affected by this microbiome and now researchers believe there is a connection between gut health and skin cancer treatments.
Your gut’s microbiome has a lot more control when it comes to your overall health than you may think.
“They are dynamically interacting with our physiology, with our moods, with our medical health,” explained Bruce Stevens, PhD, a professor at University of Florida.
Researchers at Oregon State University confirmed that changes to the gut microbiome in melanoma patients allowed them to respond better to their cancer treatment. In their study, some of the patients showed either tumor reduction or disease stabilization that lasted for more than a year. An observational study also found a link between high dietary fiber and better responses to immune therapy for melanoma. So, how do you maintain better gut health?
“High fiber, low sodium diets, and certain kinds of food groups can promote good gut bacteria,” Stevens told Ivanhoe.
Sources of fiber include, oats, barley, nuts and seeds, peas, avocado, oranges, and brussels sprouts. The ideal amount of fiber a person should have a day is 25 to 30 grams. People who tend to eat foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are high in fiber report better gut health.
Stress can have a negative impact on your gut microbiome. Probiotic supplements can help support your microbiome. However, it is important to talk to your doctor before choosing one since there are many on the market.
Contributors to this news report include: Danielle Gober, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
GUT HEALTH AFFECTS MELANOMA
REPORT #2946
BACKGROUND: The body is full of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are collectively known as the microbiome. They are referred to as microorganisms, or microbes, for short. Trillions of these microbes exist mainly inside the intestines and on the skin. Most of the microbes in the intestines are found in a “pocket” of the large intestine called the cecum and are referred to as the gut microbiome. Altogether, these microbes may weigh as much as 2–5 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a brain. They function as an extra organ in the body and play a huge role in health. The gut microbiome begins to affect the body the moment you are born. As you grow, it begins to diversify, meaning it starts to contain many different types of microbial species. A higher microbiome diversity is considered good for your health.
(Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gut-microbiome-and-health)
HOW GUT HEALTH AFFECTS THE BODY: Each person has a unique network of microbiota that is originally determined by their own DNA. The microbiome consists of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. In a healthy body, both types of microbiota coexist without problems. If there is a disturbance in that balance brought on by infectious illnesses, certain diets, or the prolonged use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medications, dysbiosis occurs, stopping these normal interactions and the body may become more susceptible to disease as a result. Microbiota stimulate the immune system, break down potentially toxic food compounds, and synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids, including the B vitamins and vitamin K. The microbiota of a healthy person will also provide protection from harmful organisms that enter the body such as through drinking or eating contaminated water or food. Probiotic foods contain beneficial live microbiota that may further alter the microbiome. These include fermented foods like kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, pickled vegetables, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, miso, and sauerkraut.
(Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/)
NEW STRATEGY FOR MELANOMA AND GUT HEALTH: Dual immune checkpoint therapy has contributed to the progress in overall survival for many cancer types, including advanced melanoma. Combining CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors produces high responses but is often accompanied by immune-related adverse events, such as colitis. “We’re getting closer to understanding which patients are most likely to benefit from checkpoint inhibitors and to identifying strategies to mitigate toxicity,” said Jennifer Wargo, MD, professor of Genomic Medicine and Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study found a significantly higher abundance of Bacteroides intestinalis in the gut microbiota of patients with advanced melanoma who experienced toxicity from combined immunotherapy. The study comprised of 77 adults who received combined CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockade treatment for advanced melanoma. The majority had stage IV disease (84%) and had not received any previous systemic therapy. Nearly all patients had an adverse event of any grade (93.5%) and about half (49%) experienced grade 3 or higher adverse events in response to treatment.
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Bruce Stevens, PhD
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