The microbiome is a new concept that will be heard of increasingly in the next few years. 

It relates to the bacteria in our gut which outnumber our human cells 10-1.  It turns out that not only they are the majority, but they are in control as well! 

A packed meeting, the third in the Core Exploring the Science of Digestion series, heard how the microbiome may influence mood, personality and possibly intelligence as well as playing a key role in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as C. difficile, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and more widespread diseases such as diabetes, obesity and fatty liver.  Delegates heard how replacing the faeces of a patient suffering from the dreaded C. difficile infection with those from a healthy donor was now recognised as an effective, possibly the most effective, treatment for this deadly condition, and was even recently promoted by NICE.  Recognising all of this (and perhaps enticed by the speculation that a personality or intelligence boost could be thrown in!) many in the audience declared that they would be prepared to undergo faecal transplantation if they developed C. difficile infection, despite the rather gruesome details of how it all was done!  The five presenters stressed that research was at an early stage for other possible diseases making this a “Watch this Space” topic. 

Understanding the microbiome provides a logical basis for assessing what is a healthy diet.  Professor Kevin Whelan gave practical details about how pre-biotic and pro-biotic diets could promote a healthy microbiome. Other topics discussed were screening for new drugs for abdominal pain and understandings of how the gut controls appetite and, therefore, obesity which offer the prospect of a pill to stop you getting fat.  As usual, at these Core events, there was a lively discussion and the meeting ran over time because everyone had another question and no-one wanted to leave! Each delegate received a copy of the report, entitled The ecologist will see you now which can be obtained from Jon Smalldon at Core (jsmalldon@corecharity.org.uk).   Videos of the full talks as well as highlights and key interviews will be on the Core website in December.

Commenting on the meeting, Professor Chris J Hawkey, Chair of Core, said:

“This is the most exciting area of gut research currently.  It’s at an early stage and not all promises will be fulfilled, but I have a feeling the impact will, in some areas, be revolutionary."

About Core

Core, the Digestive Diseases Foundation, is the only national charity committed to fighting all conditions (diseases) that affect the gut, liver and pancreas. We support medical research that saves lives and improves outcomes, and we provide evidence based (practical) information to patients, their families and carers. We also work with other organisations to raise awareness of digestive disorders and the importance of good gut health.

Burden of digestive disease in the UK

In the UK 3 million people are diagnosed with a digestive disorder every year

Diseases of the gut are the third highest cause of death in the UK

Digestive diseases are a factor 1 in 8 of UK deaths

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common on site for cancer and accounts for 27% of all cancer deaths.

Every year in the UK there are 7,000 deaths from oesophageal cancer, 10,000 deaths from stomach cancer, 6,000 deaths from pancreatic cancer, and 36,000 deaths from cancers of the colon and rectum.

Liver disease is the 5^th largest cause of death in the UK and the only major area where there is a relentless increase in disease and death.

The average age of death from liver disease is 59 years, compared to 82 years for heart and lung disease or stroke.

An estimated 250,000 people in the UK suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD: Crohn’s disease and colitis) most commonly starting in childhood or adolescence to cause a lifetime of misery.

In the UK, Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects up to a third of us at some point in our lives, and almost as many suffer with reflux and heartburn symptoms.

Coeliac disease affects 1-2% of the population

For many patients disorders of the gut are short lived and, thanks to medical research, are easily treated.  However patients with long-term conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, acute or chronic pancreatitis, liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or cancers of the digestive tract bear a significant burden in terms of symptoms and the impact on quality of life. Core works to uncover the causes of these diseases, find cures and improve patient outcomes.

Core research

The research challenge in gut and liver disease is huge and Core has invested over £7,000,00 to fund ground breaking research.

Core has recently funded research in the following areas: appetite control and eating disorders, coeliac disease, GI cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, diarrhoea, gut pain, liver disease, malnutrition in Africa, the Microbiome, oesophageal diseases, pancreatitis, and patient’s experience of living with gut disorders.  Our commitment is to support the best research in all areas of digestive disorders.

Recognising that the best hospital clinicians are often those that have taken time out to undertake research, Core supports and encourages young doctors to compete for our research fellowships, many of whom have gone on to become the UK’s leaders in gastroenterology and liver disease.  Core also provides Development Awards to established researchers to support projects that are likely to offer a clinical payback in the short to medium term, or funding is provided to pilot projects that will then be taken forward by larger funders.

Core patient information

Core’s patient information helps over 250,000 people every year.  This includes leaflets distributed directly to individuals, hospital departments and pharmacies as well as downloads from our website. The patient information is designed to enable people to understand their condition, know what treatment to expect and to empower those struggling with day-to-day symptoms.  Patients, as well as medical experts, are involved in all stages of developing and updating Core’s patient information.

Raising awareness of gut and liver disease

The nature of digestive disorders discourages sufferers from discussing them freely, even with health professionals. Gut illnesses range from the trivial to the life threatening. Some symptoms that are normally viewed as common and of little significance can be the first signs of serious disease. By raising awareness of the growing burden of gut disorders in the UK Core is helping people to overcome their embarrassment around talking about their symptoms, giving them the confidence to seek medical help earlier.

Promoting good gut health

Core has recently launched a series of free public meetings to help people understand the digestive system, the conditions that affect it and what they can do to fight them. The meetings, called Exploring the Science of Digestion give an opportunity for the public to hear leading experts share their insights on recent developments and ask questions that concern their gut condition. 

Videos from previous events are on the Core website.

Core receives no government support for its work and relies on voluntary donations from Core Friends and fundraising events in its fight against diseases of the gut, liver and pancreas.

more about core