3 ms·

"Moeller and others also suggest identifying the missing microbes may be the first step toward bringing them back. “If we determine that these groups were provi

"Moeller and others also suggest identifying the missing microbes may be the first step toward bringing them back. “If we determine that these groups were providing important functions to keep humans healthy,” Maccaro says, “perhaps we can restore them with probiotics.” Oh really? Nice submarine for Actimel, Yakult etc.

antiterra 4y ago
Unfortunately, the most effective treatment I know of to change gut biome is bacteriotherapy via a method many people find off-putting and violating. I think, for the time being, people are much more likely to accept a probiotic.
- thematrixturtle 4y ago
  I take it you mean fecal transplants, aka inserting somebody else's feces up your rectum?
  - insamniac 4y ago
    transpoosion
zdragnar 4y ago
Well, it's either a pill, or moving out of the city, or a fecal transplant (assuming that the urban / rural divide is relevant, and not just a proxy for diet). I don't live in the city, but if I were told that I would be healthier with more of these microbes that my environment doesn't support, I'd opt for the pill.
- jgrantx 4y ago
  Doing nothing is also an option! I'm not aware of an indigestion epidemic among city dwellers. Being told to do something is not sufficient, especially when multi-billion dollar industries are behind it.
  - bawolff 4y ago
    More research is needed. However there is an obseity epidemic and a depression epidemic, and its plausible they are related. Which doesn't mean they are, but seems like something worth looking into.
- dannyperson 4y ago
  The study compares humans (who happen to live in cities) to primates (who definitely don't live in cities). It doesn't compare between human populations.
  - zdragnar 4y ago
    The content I replied to implied that the article was a submarine advertisement for pills. If there is a problem in need of a solution, and it isn't diet related, I'd much prefer the pill over there other options.
wtetzner 4y ago
Kinda feels like identifying the missing microbes should instead help us track down what we’re doing that’s causing them to die off.

antiterra 4y ago

Unfortunately, the most effective treatment I know of to change gut biome is bacteriotherapy via a method many people find off-putting and violating. I think, for the time being, people are much more likely to accept a probiotic.

thematrixturtle 4y ago
I take it you mean fecal transplants, aka inserting somebody else's feces up your rectum?
- insamniac 4y ago
  transpoosion

zdragnar 4y ago

Well, it's either a pill, or moving out of the city, or a fecal transplant (assuming that the urban / rural divide is relevant, and not just a proxy for diet). I don't live in the city, but if I were told that I would be healthier with more of these microbes that my environment doesn't support, I'd opt for the pill.

jgrantx 4y ago
Doing nothing is also an option! I'm not aware of an indigestion epidemic among city dwellers. Being told to do something is not sufficient, especially when multi-billion dollar industries are behind it.
- bawolff 4y ago
  More research is needed. However there is an obseity epidemic and a depression epidemic, and its plausible they are related. Which doesn't mean they are, but seems like something worth looking into.
dannyperson 4y ago
The study compares humans (who happen to live in cities) to primates (who definitely don't live in cities). It doesn't compare between human populations.
- zdragnar 4y ago
  The content I replied to implied that the article was a submarine advertisement for pills. If there is a problem in need of a solution, and it isn't diet related, I'd much prefer the pill over there other options.

wtetzner 4y ago

Kinda feels like identifying the missing microbes should instead help us track down what we’re doing that’s causing them to die off.