Documenting the Continuum of Measures from Health to Disease

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Defining Gut Health

Understanding Gut Health

“Gut Health: A New Objective in Medicine?” (Bischoff, 2011), noted that gut health is recognized as a “desirable aim and an important physiological condition required for overall good health.” Since the gut microbiome research boom which followed this paper, even more attention has been focused on the gut as impactful to health – across many systems.

The paper discusses the lack of a consensus definition and offers a table of assessments or measures. For example, there exist various validated physiological indicators of inflammation, motility, or permeability. In addition, there are subjective assessments of discomfort, bowel habits, and other indicators. Although it is implied that “gut health” lies somewhere along the continuum of each of these measures, there is an opportunity to better understand how it is conceptualized and the degree of measure validation.

The Nutrition for Gut Health Committee funds external researchers and convenes experts to advance science around the influence of the diet on gut health. See recent publications and upcoming events to learn more about the committee’s work.

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One step toward arriving at agreement on the concept of "gut health" is better understanding available measures and their interpretation, starting with an update of the Bischoff work. By clarifying this concept, it may be possible to identify interventions (foods, diets, supplements) that promote health through the gut and downstream systemic benefits.

Project Investigators

Cara Frankenfeld, PhD
EpidStrategies, LLC

Other Projects Supported by the Committee

Documenting Consumer’s Perspectives on ‘Gut Health’ and the Impacts of Nutrition

The Healthy Gut Documenting Consumer’s Perspectives on ‘Gut Health’ and the Impacts of Nutrition How Consumers Think About Gut Health There is significant consumer, research, […]

Documenting the Continuum of Measures from Health to Disease

Defining Gut Health Understanding Gut Health “Gut Health: A New Objective in Medicine?” (Bischoff, 2011), noted that gut health is recognized as a “desirable aim […]

Investigation of the Relationship Between Live Dietary Microbe Intake and Health Outcomes, Using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

Microbes from Foods Understanding Live Microbes Research has shown that the consumption of live microbes, including and beyond probiotics, is associated with health benefits. Fermented […]

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