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.

How does olive oil affect gut health?

Could olive oil’s hidden compounds be the key to a healthier gut? New research uncovers how olive-derived bioactives transform our microbiome and may unlock future therapies for digestive and metabolic health.

9 Jul 2025

Could serotonin supplements become the next hair loss treatment?

Researchers have shown that serotonin directly stimulates dermal papilla cells and promotes hair growth in lab-grown hair follicloids and human hair follicles. The findings suggest serotonin and related compounds could offer new avenues for treating hair loss, though safety and dosing challenges remain.

9 Jul 2025

Uncovering how a key inflammatory molecule causes esophageal smooth muscle contractions

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, has uncovered important details about how platelet-activating factor (PAF)-a powerful molecule involved in inflammation and allergic reactions-triggers contractions in the smooth muscles of the esophagus.

9 Jul 2025

Salivary enzyme levels rise with gene variation in diabetics

This research highlights the association between AMY1 gene copy number and salivary enzyme activity, with implications for glucose homeostasis in diabetes.

8 Jul 2025

Bayesian neural networks advance understanding of gut microbe metabolism

Gut bacteria are known to be a key factor in many health-related concerns. However, the number and variety of them is vast, as are the ways in which they interact with the body's chemistry and each other.

7 Jul 2025

Study elucidates relationship between Type 2 diabetes and salivary enzyme gene

A new Cornell University study brings additional clarity to the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and genes that express a salivary enzyme that breaks down starch.

4 Jul 2025

Global effort enters an active growth phase to preserve the Earth's microbial heritage

A global effort to create a "microbial Noah's Ark" to preserve the world's diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase.

27 Jun 2025

Use of sleep heart rate patterns to forecast diabetes risk in pregnancy

This study highlights the potential of heart rate variability as an early indicator of gestational diabetes, facilitating proactive healthcare in pregnancy.

23 Jun 2025

Study links sleep heart rate variability to stroke and depression risk

New research, presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025, has uncovered a powerful link between nighttime heart rhythm and future health conditions, even in people with no obvious sleep problems.

20 Jun 2025

Time-restricted feeding restores microbial rhythms and boosts metabolism

The gut microbiome, a vast assortment of bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit our digestive system, plays a critical role in converting food into energy.

19 Jun 2025

Immune tolerance to gut microbes depends on ancient protein STING

Thousands of bacterial and other microbial species live in the human gut, supporting healthy digestion, immunity, metabolism and other functions.

16 Jun 2025

A revolutionary drug for extreme hunger offers clues to obesity’s complexity

Ali Foley Shenk still remembers the panic when her 10-year-old son, Dean, finished a 20-ounce box of raisins in the seconds the cupboard was left unlocked. They rushed to the emergency room, fearing a dangerous bowel impaction.

16 Jun 2025

Eating more fruits and vegetables associated with better sleep quality

From counting sheep to white noise and weighted blankets, people have tried innumerable ways to get a good night's sleep.

12 Jun 2025

Maternal exposure to metals rewires infants’ gut and resistance genes

Prenatal exposure to trace elements like selenium, copper, and arsenic can significantly alter the infant gut microbiome, metabolism, and antibiotic resistance gene patterns. These changes appear as early as three months and evolve during the first year of life.

5 Jun 2025

Back-to-basics, 'not fad' diets beat heart disease and diabetes

This review examines dietary interventions that can improve cardiometabolic health, highlighting the role of whole foods in reducing heart disease and diabetes.

4 Jun 2025

Fine particulate matter exposure may alter pregnancy outcomes

A new study by Emory University researchers, published Thursday in Environmental Science & Technology, found that exposure to the tiny particles in air pollution during pregnancy can disrupt maternal metabolisms, altering key biological pathways.

3 Jun 2025

Next-generation hydrogel supports regeneration of salivary gland-like tissue

Salivary glands play an essential role in protecting oral health by secreting saliva to aid in digestion, speech, and immunity.

30 May 2025

Scientists boost black cabbage’s health benefits with targeted fermentation

Controlled fermentation of black cabbage using specific bacterial and yeast starters enhanced its antioxidant, polyphenol, and amino acid content, while ensuring food safety and improving sensory qualities. Yeast-fermented pressed cabbage achieved the highest nutritional gains, with both starter cultures and pressing technique playing key roles in maximizing health-promoting benefits.

28 May 2025

Understanding cow’s milk allergy in breastfed infants

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) affects up to 2.2% of infants, with a complex interplay of immunological mechanisms, allergen transfer via breast milk, and variable responses to maternal elimination diets. Current evidence challenges the routine use of maternal dietary restrictions, highlighting the need for precise diagnosis and further research.

27 May 2025

Abdominal fat emerges as independent risk factor for psoriasis in women

Researchers have found that central body fat, especially around the abdomen, is more strongly linked to psoriasis risk than total body fat, particularly in women.

27 May 2025