We’re always hearing about the risks and benefits of bacteria in terms of our health, but what do we really know about those microscopic bugs living in our insides? You can barely find a healthcare product these days that doesn’t display its antibacterial properties and there’s no denying that in terms of certain bacteria, this is preferable to a product without. But how harmful is bacteria really, and do we actually need it to stay healthy? Studies suggest we have around three to five pounds worth of microbes living in our bodies, which in the past would have been a cause for concern given the belief that the absence of microbes was preferable for good health. These days, however, we’re learning that bacteria isn’t just a source of disease but also of good health.
Researchers believe that the average person plays host to more than 10,000 species of organisms at any one time, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. These are known collectively as your microbiome. Everyone’s microbiome is unique to them, a product of their genes, diet, lifestyle and the environment in which they live. But it’s possible to have similar microbiomes with people who share your physical and neurological traits. For example, obese people have different microbiomes to lean people; kids with autism have different types of bacteria to those without; people with skin conditions such as eczema will have different organisms living on their skin to people who don’t. The more people scientists map the microbiomes of, the better equipped they’ll be in matching up connections between bacterias and health conditions. This could be hugely beneficial when it comes to serious conditions such as obesity or cancer, but researchers are very much in the early stages of this type of study and much more in-depth research needs to take place before conclusive evidence can be found.
We’ve known for a long time that if you upset your natural balance of bacteria, it will make you sick. But new research shows that colon cancer, which is responsible for killing around 50,000 people each year, could be another more serious outcome. People with colorectal cancers have high levels of E.coli bacteria, which is renowned for being a fecal germ guilty of causing food poisoning. Scientists are still looking into what type of role this bacteria is playing in the development of cancer, but increased levels of the bacteria certainly spell trouble. There is hope that by monitoring the bacteria levels in a person who is at risk of the disease, doctors will be able to catch such a condition in the very early stages and increase the chance of survival.
This could also be the case with the fight against obesity. Researchers believe that certain drugs can alter the mix of bacteria which can lead to a higher concentration of bugs that extract calories from food. Scientists are still looking into the perfect balance of bacteria for optimal health, but one condition has been incredibly responsive to microbiome intervention. People plagued by a bacterial infection which causes potentially life-threatening diarrhoea could be saved by a faecal transplant – taking the faeces of a healthy person and introducing them to the gut of a sick person. It currently has a 94 per cent success rate, and while it doesn’t sound pleasant as a cure, there results show why the human microbiome is a ground-breaking element of modern medicine and one which could offer incredible results in terms of our health.