Fine Particles and the Gut

Air pollution and the gut: Are fine particles linked to bowel disease?Worldwide, an estimated 5 million people suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In recent years, scientists have identified genes that may account for as much as 25 percent of these diseases. But now they are beginning to look beyond the human genome to …

Prebiotic May Help Patients With Intestinal Failure Grow New and Better Gut

Adding the right prebiotic to the diets of pediatric patients with intestinal failure could replace intravenous feeding, says a new University of Illinois study. “When we fed the carbohydrate fructooligosacharide (FOS) as a prebiotic, the gut grew and increased in function,” said Kelly A. Tappenden, a U of I professor of nutrition and gastrointestinal physiology. …