An animal study showed how mucus production throughout the colon helps to keep gut bacteria isolated from intestinal tissue as well as helps to prevent inflammation; a better understanding of healthy mucus production may lead to strategies for treating IBD and other gut disorders.
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that normally live in our intestines. They have many important functions, such as helping digest food and preventing dangerous bacteria from getting a foothold in the body.
Problems can result when the relationship between the microbiome and the digestive system becomes disrupted. Imbalances are thought to contribute to many gut disorders, including the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
