Thông báo
CẢM ƠN QUÝ KHÁCH ĐÃ ĐẶT LỊCH KHÁM TẠI AIH.
Quý khách có muốn đăng ký thông tin trước không?
Vui lòng điền vào thông tin bên dưới
Khẩn cấp
GUT MICROBIOTA, COLORECTAL CANCER, ALLERGIES, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES – WHY PROBIOTICS SHOULD NOT BE OVERUSED?
Gut microbiota and risk of colorectal cancer
According to Dr. Mai Vien Phuong, Master’s Degree, Head of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, American International Hospital (AIH), colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, with an increasing incidence in many countries, including Vietnam.
In addition to established risk factors such as age, family history, a diet high in red meat, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity, scientists are increasingly concerned about the role of gut microbiota.
In healthy individuals, the gut microbiota helps maintain the intestinal mucosa barrier, and produces short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate to nourish colonic cells and help control inflammation.
In contrast, as long-term imbalance in the gut microbiota appears, several types of bacteria may proliferate excessively and produce substances damaging DNA or promoting chronic inflammation. This is considered one of the mechanisms possibly contributing to the formation of polyps and colorectal cancer.
Some studies have found increased levels of bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum or certain toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli in colorectal cancer tissue. However, this does not mean that these bacteria are the sole cause of cancer. Until now, scientists believe that colorectal cancer results from interactions among genetic, environmental, dietary, lifestyle, and gut microbiota-related factors.
Understanding the gut microbiota correctly
Nowadays, no probiotics or functional foods has been proven to prevent or treat colorectal cancer.
Rather than relying on supplement products, the most important thing is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo timely colorectal cancer screening, particularly for people aged 45 and older, or those with a family history of the disease.
Is the gut microbiota linked to allergies and autoimmune disease?
Are infants delivered by Cesarean section, given antibiotics early in life, or raised in an excessively "sterile" environment at a higher risk of allergies?
This is an issue that has been of interest to scientists and studied for many years.
The gut microbiota plays an important role in the development and regulation of the immune system, particularly in the early years of life. Exposure to a diverse range of microorganisms in the environment helps the immune system to gradually “learn” how to distinguish between harmless substances and potential pathogens.
When the gut microbiota becomes imbalanced, the immune regulation may be affected. Therefore, the immune system may overreact to harmless substances, such as pollen, house dust, or certain foods.
Many observational studies have reported associations between changes in gut microbiota and several allergic conditions such as:
Atopic dermatitis
Asthma
Allergic rhinitis
Food allergy
In addition, scientists are also investigating the link between the gut microbiota and several autoimmune diseases, such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes.
However, it must be emphasized that the majority of current studies only demonstrate an association, rather than proving that altering the microbiota can prevent or cure these diseases.
Why probiotics should not be overused indiscriminately?
This is a common situation in clinical practice.
Some patients bring along 3 to 4 different boxes of probiotics and report taking them continuously for months under the belief that “when it comes to beneficial bacteria, the more you take, the better.”
However, the reality is much more complex.
Probiotics are live microorganisms which can provide many health benefits with the correct strains, appropriate doses, and to the right target populations. However, not all probiotics are alike, and no single product is suitable for every patient.
For example:
One strain may help reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Another strain may benefit certain cases of irritable bowel syndrome
Meanwhile, many other strains still lack clear evidence for other medical conditions.
For most healthy people, short-term probiotic use is considered safe. However, people with severe immunodeficiency, and those undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplantation, as well as people with severe condition, administration requires a physician's prescription.
Importantly, probiotics cannot be used to replace a healthy diet and lifestyle.
If we continue to eat very few green vegetables, get insufficient sleep, experience frequent stress, and remain sedentary every day, probiotics alone are unlikely to make a significant difference.
How to scientifically restore the gut microbiota?
This is perhaps one of the major concerns patients are most interested in.
The good news is that most of the things that help keep your gut microbiota healthy are also the very habits that are good for your overall health.
1. Eat more fiber
Fiber is a preferred food source of beneficial bacteria.
When the fiber is fermented, it produces short-chain fatty acids to nourish the intestinal lining cells, help reduce inflammation, and maintain the gastrointestinal protective barrier.
You should eat more:
Green vegetables
Fresh fruit
Legumes
Oats
Whole grains
Increasing your fiber intake gradually to limit bloating in the early stages.
2. Food Diversification
The more diverse a diet is, the more various the gut microbiota tends to be.
Instead of eating several familiar vegetables, you can vary your meals weekly with various leafy vegetables, root vegetables, fruits, and different protein sources.
This diversity helps multiple bacterial groups thrive, contributing to the maintenance of a balanced gut ecosystem.
3. Limit ultra-processed foods
Fast food, sugary soft drinks, commercially produced confectionery, and ultra-processed food usually contain a lot of sugar, saturated fat, and additives.
If these products are consumed over an extended period, they can reduce the diversity of microbiota and affect negatively metabolic health
It does not mean that you need to avoid them completely. Rather, these foods should be consumed in moderation.
4. Sufficient sleep and stress management
The gut and the brain communicate constantly with each other.
Quality sleep and stress reduction not only help improve mood but also contribute to maintaining the normal functioning of the gut microbiota and intestinal motility.
Many patients find that simply by adjusting their daily schedules, exercising regularly, and reducing work-related pressure, symptoms such as bloating or abdominal pain also improve significantly.
5. Only use antibiotics when truly necessary
Antibiotics are one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine and can save many patients' lives.
However, self-medicating with antibiotics or using them improperly not only increases antibiotic resistance but also affects the gut microbiota.
Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a doctor, and strictly follow the prescribed course of treatment.
Understanding correctly for better gut care
A healthy microbiota does not come from a single pill, a probiotic, or a "miracle" food.
It is built from many small habits maintained every day such as having a diverse diet, taking sufficient fiber, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, as well as reducing stress and taking appropriate medication.
These changes may seem simple, but they are precisely the most solid foundation for protecting your microbiota and long-term health.
Personalization in digestive healthcare
In digestive healthcare, prescription is only a part of the treatment process. What patients also need is clear explanations, appropriate guidance, and their own condition-based treatment plan.
Because everyone has a unique constitution, lifestyle, daily habits, and individual concerns, digestive health must be evaluated comprehensively, rather than focusing solely on endoscopy results or laboratory test indices.
At the Gastroenterology Department – American International Hospital, physicians take the time to understand patients' lifestyles, job characteristics, dietary habits, sleep quality, stress levels, and personal concerns. This is because gut health is not only influenced by diet or the microbiota, but is also closely tied to how each individual lives and copes with life's pressures.
On that basis, the care and treatment plan is tailored in a personalized manner, focusing not only on immediate symptom control but also on maintaining a healthy digestive system, minimizing recurrence, and improving long-term quality of life.
Digestive health requires comprehensive care. With a scientific foundation, dedication, and empathy, the Gastroenterology Department – American International Hospital aims to be a reliable companion for patients throughout their healthcare journey.
References
Lee JY, Bays DJ, Savage HP, Bäumler AJ, Richardson AR. The human gut microbiome in health and disease: Time for a new chapter? Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 2024;88(4).
Ross FC, Patangia DV, Grimaud G, Lavelle A, Dempsey EM, Ross RP, Stanton C. The interplay between diet and the gut microbiome: Implications for health and disease. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2024;22:671–686.
--------------------
Để lại bình luận