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.

Gut bacteria can digest common food thickeners

It turns out those cellulose-based thickening agents found in common foods can be digested.

12 Aug 2025

Microplastics found in all popular UK drinks, with hot beverages worst offenders

Researchers found microplastics in every hot and cold beverage tested in the UK, with higher levels in hot drinks and packaging as the main source. Beverage consumption was shown to significantly increase daily microplastic intake beyond water-only estimates.

11 Aug 2025

Brain’s energy control map offers blueprint for next-gen weight loss therapies

Scientists map how the brain integrates hormonal and neural signals from the body to control appetite, energy use, and reward pathways, revealing targets for next-generation anti-obesity drugs. This review highlights the interplay between neuroendocrine circuits, neuroplasticity, and pharmacotherapy for durable, non-aversive weight loss.

11 Aug 2025

How early immune challenges influence oral and systemic health in children

Once viewed only as infectious invaders, bacteria are now understood to play an important role in overall health.

8 Aug 2025

Understanding the biomarkers and mechanisms associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis

Encephalitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves inflammation of the brain. While some cases of encephalitis are caused by a bacterial or viral infection, other cases of 'autoimmune' encephalitis result when the body's own immune system attacks the brain.

8 Aug 2025

Drug turns human blood into a mosquito killer

A drug that makes human blood lethal to mosquitoes also acts as a potent contact insecticide absorbed through the feet, providing a promising new approach to combating insecticide resistance.

7 Aug 2025

Researchers solve longstanding mystery of protein release in cells

It's known as biology's central dogma: All living organisms' genetic information is stored in DNA, which is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins that perform nearly all essential tasks in a cell.

5 Aug 2025

Mouth and gut microbes talk to each other - here’s why it matters for disease

Researchers reviewed nearly 250 studies to uncover how the oral and gut microbiomes communicate through multiple pathways, influencing the risk of diseases such as IBD, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The review highlights that maintaining oral health and dietary habits is crucial for overall systemic wellbeing.

4 Aug 2025

Unraveling the mysteries of post-acute infection syndromes

In recent years, doctors and scientists are increasingly studying long-lasting illnesses that begin after someone recovers from an infection.

1 Aug 2025

New research reveals why fiber-rich diets fuel you better than refined foods

This study quantifies how much energy the human body harvests from gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, integrating bacterial physiology, diet, and metagenomic data. Results reveal that dietary fiber, not microbiome composition, mainly determines the amount of short-chain fatty acids absorbed, impacting daily energy and metabolic health.

31 Jul 2025

Hemp seeds: The surprisingly complete protein hiding in plain sight

Researchers reviewed the nutritional and functional potential of industrial hemp seeds, highlighting their complete protein, healthy fat, and fiber content. The review outlines how processing innovations and market forces could make hemp a leading ingredient in plant-based and functional foods.

24 Jul 2025

Low-gluten diets disrupt gut health by depleting key bacteria

Long-term gluten reduction may disrupt gut microbiota balance, reducing beneficial bacteria and increasing ethanol, linked to inflammation and metabolic risks.

24 Jul 2025

Blocking a single gene disrupts vitamin D metabolism and cancer pathways in new cell study

Researchers identified SDR42E1 as a key regulator of vitamin D absorption and sterol metabolism in colorectal cancer cells. Disruption of this enzyme altered cancer-related pathways and cell viability, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

21 Jul 2025

Why obesity spikes with wealth: The real culprit is on your plate

Economic development drives higher obesity rates worldwide, but not because people move less. Instead, rising consumption of ultraprocessed foods plays a much bigger role than declining physical activity in the global obesity crisis.

20 Jul 2025

Combination of dysbiosis, OTUD3 gene mutations, and STING signaling linked to ulcerative colitis severity

Ulcerative colitis (UC) causes misery for millions worldwide. It affects the large intestine, causing pain, cramping, and frequent bowel movements with bloody diarrhea.

18 Jul 2025

Common medications impact gut microbiome and promote pathogen growth

The human intestine is home to a dense network of microorganisms, known collectively as the gut microbiome, which actively helps to shape our health.

16 Jul 2025

Adding nut extract helps keep pork burgers healthier and safer

Researchers found that adding hazelnut skin green extract to pork burgers significantly reduced harmful lipid oxidation during cooking and digestion. This natural by-product may help extend shelf life and offer a clean-label alternative to synthetic preservatives in meat products.

14 Jul 2025

Cheese and milk in Italy show alarming levels of microplastic contamination

Researchers found microplastics in nearly all Italian supermarket milk, fresh cheese, and ripened cheese samples, with ripened cheese containing the highest levels. The study highlights how dairy processing and packaging steps increase microplastic contamination in common foods.

13 Jul 2025

Underactive thyroid linked to increased risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

People with an underactive thyroid may have an increased risk of developing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a risk that may be reduced with thyroid hormone treatment, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

12 Jul 2025

AlphaFold2 enables large scale analysis of enzyme evolution

Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions in organisms - without which life would not be possible. Leveraging AlphaFold2 artificial intelligence, researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now succeeded in analyzing the laws of their evolution on a large scale.

10 Jul 2025