Why do We have the Intestinal Bacteria?

All humans have a lot of bacteria and other microorganisms in the intestines. In fact, humans have bacteria basically about ten times more than the number of cells in our body. Apparently the presence of bacteria in our bodies have an important role for our health.

They help us digest food and provide energy and vitamins. Bacteria that live in the intestines it also works to prevent bad bacteria such as Salmonella, which cause infections. Even a number of biochemical reactions that build and maintain our bodies comes from the intestinal bacteria.

Mutually beneficial relationship did not always go well. If the bacteria in the gut is not balanced, damage and inflammation can occur at various locations within the body. The imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and even liver disorders.

The research group led by Jayne Danska at Sick Children's Hospital at the University of Toronto and Andrew Macpherson of the Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine at the University of Bern shows that the influence of gut bacteria is much broader, including influencing the possibility of diabetes.

The picture shows the intestinal cells in blue with a very thick and dense layer of bacteria in red just above the top of the intestinal surface. The red bacteria produce chemicals that enter the body and help keep it healthy, for example by protecting it from diabetes. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

In children and adolescents, diabetes is often caused by immune system cells that destroy cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. About 30 years ago, Japanese researchers found that laboratory strains of NOD mice predisposed to develop diabetes. These mice have many of the same genes as humans that make it susceptible to disease.

With the help of a special facility at the University of Bern and the University of Toronto, Danska and Macpherson were able to demonstrate that intestinal bacteria, particularly in male rats, can produce hormones and biochemical compounds that stop diabetes.

Diabetes is increasingly common in teens. The doctors even predicted the emergence of an epidemic of diabetes. The increase in cases of diabetes occurred during the last 40 years, when the house and the environment we are getting clean and hygienic.

"We hope this new understanding of the possibility of intestinal bacteria can protect children who are prone to diabetes this can aid the development of new treatments to prevent children from diabetes," said Macpherson. *** [EKA | FROM VAROUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY | TJANDRA DEWI | KORAN TEMPO 4121]

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