- A healthy gut microbiome is essential for an overall healthy digestive system.
- Different foods impact the gut microbiome in different ways.
- A new study has found that distinct types of dairy products appear to affect the gut microbiome differently.
- Scientists observed that drinking more milk was linked to an increase in two types of bacteria that may support gut health, while consuming more cheese seemed to lower levels of another beneficial type of bacteria.
For some time now, the gut microbiome has taken center stage when it comes to improving the health of the digestive system.
This is because the gut microbiome can help the digestive system better break down food and create much-needed nutrients.
Recent research suggests that a Healthy microbiome can help lower a person’s risk for gastrointestinal-related conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD), and leaky gut syndrome.
We also know that different foods affect the gut microbiome in different ways. For example, whole foods high in dietary fiber support the microbiome, while certain
“We know that the microbiota — including bacteria, fungi, virus, and other microbes — [that] naturally live in our gut are important for our overall health, immune function, and various health conditions,” Li Jiao, MD, MS, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine-Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine told Medical News Today.
She explained that:
“Our diet affects our health through the gut microbiota, at least partially. If we fully understand how food impacts the trillions of bacteria in our gut, we can better maintain gut health, overall health, and provide evidence-based dietary guidelines. We would be able to use tailored nutrition approaches to prevent and manage diseases in the future.”
Jiao is the senior author of a new study recently published in the journal Nutrients, providing evidence that different types of dairy products affect the gut microbiome differently.
In this case, Jiao and her team found that drinking more milk was correlated to an increase in two types of bacteria that may support gut health, while consuming more cheese was linked to lower amounts of a third beneficial type of bacteria.
For this study, researchers’ final analysis included samples from 34 people who had a scheduled colonoscopy between August 2013 and April 2017.
The study excluded people with a family history of colon diseases or IBD, colorectal polyps within the previous 3 years, and those with other conditions or taking medications that could affect the study results. People who had recently changed their eating habits were also excluded from the study.
Study participants’ provided information on their intake of total dairy, milk, cheese, and yogurt via a self-reported questionnaire.
“We set out to study dairy products and their impacts on gut bacteria for two main reasons,” Jiao explained. “One, fermented foods are thought to influence gut microbiota. Many dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, are fermented foods. Two, there is still some debate about whether milk and cheese are good for our Health. This study [was] meant to provide more biological evidence about [the] Health impacts of milk and cheese.”
Researchers analyzed 97 colonic mucosal biopsies — samples of the lining tissues of the colon — and used
Upon analysis, scientists discovered that participants who consumed more total dairy and milk, and those who ate less cheese, appeared to have a higher alpha-microbial diversity.
“The variety of species plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health and stability of the ecosystem,” Jiao explained. “Having higher alpha-diversity in the gut means a healthier and more balanced gut microbiota community.“
“A diverse microbiota is more resilient to external disturbance such as infections, changes in diet, and antibiotic use, allowing for a quicker recovery. It is like a forest with many different types of trees [that] can recover faster from natural disasters,” she detailed.
Current research suggests that the
Scientists observed that participants who ate higher amounts of cheese had a lower amount of the bacterium
Past studies provide conflicting evidence on the health effects of Bacteroides. Some research suggests this bacterium produces toxins that
“Bacteroides are among the common bacteria in our body and some of their species offer health benefits,” Jiao said. “In the large intestine, Bacteroides help digest food, absorb nutrients, and promote gut health. We found that middle-aged men [who] consumed higher amounts of cheese had less abundant of these beneficial bacteria in the gut, making higher cheese consumption less helpful in our study population.”
“Meanwhile, higher consumption of cheese [reduced] was related to a lower diversity of the gut bacteria in our study. However, some species of Bacteroides can have both beneficial and harmful effects. Therefore, interpreting the results is not straightforward. More research is needed to understand the different strains of Bacteroides and their roles in the human body.”
– Li Jiao, MD, MS, PhD
Jiao and her team also observed that those who consumed more total diary and milk had a higher amount of the bacteria Faecalibacterium and Akkermansia in their microbiome.
Faecalibacterium may help
In animal studies, Akkermansia also shows potential in helping prevent chronic conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
“Faecalibacterium and Akkermansia are two common bacteria essential for a healthy gut,” Jiao explained. “Both can help regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote a healthy gut. Akkermansia, in addition, helps maintain and strengthen the gut lining. They are considered beneficial for our health based on the current evidence.”
“Milk and dairy products may help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, supporting the idea that milk is good for our health,” she continued.
“For people who aren’t lactose intolerant, consumption of low-fat dairy products may boost these beneficial bacteria and the diversity of the gut microbiota. Those with lactose intolerance issues may opt for yogurt, kefir, lactose-free dairy, or dairy alternatives. However, it is important to pay attention to how your body responds to dairy products,” the researcher cautioned.
MNT also spoke with Rudolph Bedford, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this study.
“It makes sense in that the process of pasteurizing cheese versus what we do with milk are quite different, and there are different potential bacteria that are involved in either both processes or what’s actually left after the process is finished,” Bedford, who was not involved in the study, told us.
Based on these recent findings, Bedford said people who haveIBD or other gut-related diseases may want to consider drinking more milk and eating less cheese.
“But obviously, I think that much more research needs to be done,” he cautioned. “In terms of patients with things like inflammatory bowel disease, we’re encouraging more of a Mediterranean diet these days, which does incorporate various dairy-like products, yogurts, and things of that sort.”
“I’d like [researchers] to break down the types of cheeses that are actually associated with lowering the Bacteroides colonies, and whether or not the processing of the cheeses really has more to do with that than not,” Bedford added.
