Digestion News and Research

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Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breaking down of food into smaller components, to a form that can be absorbed, for instance, into a blood stream. Digestion is a form of catabolism; a break-down of macro food molecules to smaller ones.

High fat diets allow gut bacteria to enter the brain via the vagus nerve

With more than 100 million neurons in the digestive tract, the gut is commonly known as the "second brain" in numerous cultures, including ancient Greece, Japan, China and India, linking digestion with physical and mental well-being.

12 Mar 2026

Engineered lettuce may turn injectable GLP-1 therapies into oral pills

Few drugs have entered mainstream awareness as quickly or as dramatically as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1 receptor agonists. Initially approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, they have since also transformed the therapeutic landscape of obesity and weight management.

6 Mar 2026

Gut bacteria may explain differences in peanut allergy reactions

One of the big mysteries in food allergy is why two people with similar levels of peanut specific antibodies can react so differently. It turns out the answer may be in the mouth and gut's bacteria.

3 Mar 2026

Ultraprocessed foods are engineered like cigarettes

The parallels between ultraprocessed foods and tobacco raise concerns about addiction and health risks, urging policymakers to implement effective regulations.

2 Mar 2026

Colorful japonica rice varieties show unique health-promoting lipids

Rice feeds more than half of the world's population, yet we still only partly understand the nutrients it contains.

27 Feb 2026

Pomegranate’s hidden fiber-bound polyphenols significantly increase total antioxidant capacity

Researchers showed that pomegranate fruit extract contains substantial levels of non-extractable polyphenols bound within its fibre-rich matrix, significantly increasing its total measured antioxidant capacity. In human neuronal and astrocytic cell lines, the extract reduced hydrogen peroxide–induced oxidative stress, particularly in astrocytes, under in vitro conditions.

26 Feb 2026

New 3D liver reconstructions show how cirrhosis reshapes organ architecture

Never-before-seen 3D reconstructions of human liver tissue have been created at a cellular level. The details obtained by a team of UW Medicine and University of Washington engineers and physicians capture the spatial microstructure of multiple lobes of this multitasking organ.

23 Feb 2026

Cyborg transplants may advance cell-based therapies for diabetes

A new electronic implant system can help lab‑grown pancreatic cells mature and function properly, potentially providing a basis for novel, cell-based therapies for diabetes.

19 Feb 2026

Study reveals bacterial duo driving chronic constipation

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation.

19 Feb 2026

Post-exercise milk helps protect bone density in adults over 60

The study highlights the role of milk and resistance training in improving bone health and physical performance among older adults through nutrition education.

17 Feb 2026

Engineered Listeria boosts innate immunity against cancer

After nearly 40 years of research on how Listeria bacteria manipulate our cells and battle our immune system to cause listeriosis, Daniel Portnoy and his colleagues have discovered a way to turn the bacteria into a potent booster of the immune system - and a potential weapon against cancer.

13 Feb 2026

Distinct microbial signature identified in pediatric Crohn's disease

NYU researchers have found a "microbial signature" of pediatric Crohn's disease that differs from the makeup of gut bacteria in children with other gastrointestinal conditions, with Crohn's patients harboring more pro-inflammatory bacteria and less protective bacteria.

12 Feb 2026

Mycoprotein demonstrates strong potential for sustainable nutrition

Plant-based food as an alternative to meat is high on the agenda today, and mycoprotein (fungal protein) in particular has come into focus in recent years.

6 Feb 2026

Brain network discovery opens new path for Parkinson’s treatment

Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder affecting more than 1 million people in the U.S. and more than 10 million globally, is characterized by debilitating symptoms such as tremors, movement difficulties, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments.

4 Feb 2026

Updated newborn screening guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis detection

An updated report on cystic fibrosis (CF) from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights the new national guidelines on CF newborn screening that aim to detect affected babies earlier, more accurately and more fairly.

1 Feb 2026

How microalgae, fish, and krill store omega-3s differently and why it matters

This study mapped how EPA and DHA are distributed across lipid classes in microalgae, fish, krill, and commercial omega-3 supplements using lipid-class–resolved analysis. It shows that lipid structure, not just total omega-3 content, differs markedly across sources and may influence their nutritional relevance.

28 Jan 2026

Genetic study links vitamin B1 metabolism to gut motility and IBS risk

Research links thiamine metabolism to gut motility, identifying genetic markers that could lead to new therapies for IBS and related digestive disorders.

23 Jan 2026

Alterations in liver metabolism experienced by individuals with Down syndrome

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome (Crnic Institute) have uncovered compelling evidence that individuals with Down syndrome experience significant alterations in liver metabolism, including elevated levels of bile acids in the bloodstream and other biomarkers of liver dysfunction.

22 Jan 2026

Researchers develop protocol to create functional acinar cells in organoids

Organoids are three-dimensional miniature models of organs, grown in a dish.

21 Jan 2026

Algae may help meet future protein demand without straining the planet

This narrative review evaluates clinical evidence on algae and algal proteins as sustainable, nutrient-dense food sources with high protein quality and bioactive compounds. Findings suggest potential benefits for muscle protein synthesis, cardiometabolic markers, immune modulation, and antioxidant status, while emphasizing heterogeneity, short-term data, and the need for longer clinical trials.

20 Jan 2026