Microbial volatility

The gut microbiome is sensitive to the effects of chronic stress. According to recent research on the gut-brain connection, the microbial ecosystem is more volatile in people who experience stress chronically compared with those who don’t. A more volatile ecosystem can be seen as less resilient, i.e. less able to keep you healthy and protect you from infections because it can open the floodgates to opportunistic pathogens to colonise the colon and create biofilms.

This is a novel concept based on an emerging concept, so you can expect this entry to be updated as new evidence is published.¹Bastiaanssen TFS, Gururajan A, van de Wouw M, Moloney GM, Ritz NL, Long-Smith CM, Wiley NC, Murphy AB, Lyte JM, Fouhy F, Stanton C, Claesson MJ, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Volatility as a Concept to Understand the Impact of Stress on the Microbiome. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Feb;124:105047. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105047.²Guzzetta KE, Cryan JF, O’Leary OF. Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Regulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Brain Plast. 2022 Oct 21;8(1):97-119. doi: 10.3233/BPL-220141.³Park DJ, Plantinga AM. Impact of Data and Study Characteristics on Microbiome Volatility Estimates. Genes (Basel). 2023 Jan 14;14(1):218. doi: 10.3390/genes14010218.

Synonyms: microbiome resilience, stress resilience

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Bastiaanssen TFS, Gururajan A, van de Wouw M, Moloney GM, Ritz NL, Long-Smith CM, Wiley NC, Murphy AB, Lyte JM, Fouhy F, Stanton C, Claesson MJ, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Volatility as a Concept to Understand the Impact of Stress on the Microbiome. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Feb;124:105047. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105047.
• 2
  Guzzetta KE, Cryan JF, O’Leary OF. Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Regulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Brain Plast. 2022 Oct 21;8(1):97-119. doi: 10.3233/BPL-220141.
• 3
  Park DJ, Plantinga AM. Impact of Data and Study Characteristics on Microbiome Volatility Estimates. Genes (Basel). 2023 Jan 14;14(1):218. doi: 10.3390/genes14010218.

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