In which diseases does the microbiota play a role?
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Here's a quick look at how Prof. Sokol answers this question from his patients
The intestinal microbiota plays a role in many diseases, including infectious diseases, such as Clostridioides difficile infection, which is a bacterium that can develop in the colon when the intestinal microbiota is disrupted, most often after taking antibiotics. It also plays a role in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, in metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, in certain neuropsychiatric conditions, such as autism, and even in cancer. However, the "weight" of the microbiota compared to other factors, such as genetics or the environment, is often still unknown.
The diseases for which we are certain today that the microbiota plays a significant role are Clostridioides difficile infection, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, metabolic syndrome, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is important to keep in mind that the microbiota does not necessarily have a significant effect in all these diseases, and also not in all affected patients.