Roles of Gut Microorganisms
There are a lot of microorganisms in the gut, which is also known as microbiota or gut flora. These include viruses, yeasts, and bacteria – with bacteria accounting for the largest part. Most of them can be found in the large intestine or colon.
Gut microorganisms play many important roles to ensure overall health. They are responsible for producing B vitamins and vitamin K. Also, short-chain fats like acetate, propionate, and butyrate can be produced from fibers to serve metabolic functions and feed the wall of the gut. Having an unbalanced gut flora would increase the risk of certain conditions, such as depression, Alzheimer’s disease, colorectal cancer, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. [2]
