Gut flora are microorganisms in the digestive tract that play a role in protecting, structuring, and metabolizing the intestine. They prevent harmful bacteria growth, contribute to the immune system, and improve food and water absorption. Enzymes produced by gut flora improve the absorption of carbohydrates and dietary minerals.
The human digestive tract begins in the mouth and extends to the anus. Gut flora refers to the microorganisms that reside in the digestive tract. These microorganisms are usually harmless. Their distribution varies along the location of the gut and between individuals. They play an important role in the protective, structural and metabolic functioning of the intestine.
Bacteria are the dominant microorganisms in the gut. Both the jejunum and ileum of the distal small intestine and large intestine dominate. Acidic, pancreatic, and biliary secretions prevent their colonization of the stomach and duodenum of the proximal small intestine. Aerobic bacteria, such as aerobic lactobacilli and enterococci, are the dominant intestinal flora in the jejunum, and the ileum and large intestine are dominated by anaerobic bacteria such as bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli, and anaerobic lactobacilli. In an adult gut there may be some alterations in the bacterial population when there are changes in age, diet, lifestyle and environment.
Under normal conditions, the human host and its intestinal flora have a symbiotic relationship where both are beneficial to each other. The human host provides food and a stable environment for the intestinal flora. Meanwhile, the intestinal flora provides benefits to its human host by preventing the colonization of harmful bacteria in the gut, preventing intestinal inflammation, contributing to the development of the immune system, improving food and water absorption, and synthesizing vitamins K and B12 .
The growth of harmful bacteria is prevented through the barrier effect, which means that the adhesion of the intestinal flora to the intestinal lining competes and inhibits the invasion of harmful bacteria. Its role in preventing intestinal inflammation and contributing to the development of the immune system is attributed to the ability of the intestinal flora to stimulate the lymphoid tissues in the intestine to produce antibodies against harmful bacteria. The growth of lymphoid tissues can also be caused by the action of short-chain fatty acids, which are products of the fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria. In addition, short-chain fatty acids control the proliferation and differentiation of cells lining the intestines which help prevent injury to the intestinal lining.
In addition to the fermentation of carbohydrates, enzymes produced by the intestinal flora also improve the absorption of carbohydrates. These enzymes digest carbohydrates into a form of energy and nutrients useful for humans. In addition, the absorption of water and dietary minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium are also enhanced, which are also essential in the metabolic functions of the human body.
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