IIN Gut Health & Microbiome 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which probiotic strain is most commonly associated with vaginal health and prevention of urogenital infections?
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- Lactobacillus crispatus (Correct answer)
- Saccharomyces boulardii
Correct answer: Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus crispatus is the dominant species in a healthy vaginal microbiome and helps maintain an acidic pH that protects against pathogens.
Question 2: What is the term for the collection of all microbial genes found in the human gut?
- Microbiome
- Microbiota
- Metagenome (Correct answer)
- Metabolome
Correct answer: Metagenome
The metagenome refers to the collective genetic material (all genes) of all microorganisms inhabiting the gut, providing functional insight into microbial communities.
Question 3: A client presents with frequent loose stools after taking antibiotics. Which probiotic has the most evidence for antibiotic-associated diarrhea?
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium infantis
- Saccharomyces boulardii (Correct answer)
- Streptococcus thermophilus
Correct answer: Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces boulardii, a beneficial yeast, has strong clinical evidence for preventing and treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is unaffected by antibiotic treatment.
Question 4: Which dietary pattern has the strongest research support for promoting microbiome diversity?
- High-protein carnivore diet
- Mediterranean diet (Correct answer)
- Low-FODMAP diet
- Ketogenic diet
Correct answer: Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet, rich in diverse plant foods, fiber, and fermented foods, consistently shows the strongest association with increased gut microbiome diversity.
Question 5: Zonulin is a protein biomarker that, when elevated, indicates increased:
- Gastric acid production
- Intestinal permeability (Correct answer)
- Pancreatic enzyme output
- Bile acid secretion
Correct answer: Intestinal permeability
Zonulin regulates tight junction permeability, and elevated serum zonulin levels are a biomarker for increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
Question 6: Which component of kombucha is responsible for its probiotic benefits?
- Added sugar
- Tea polyphenols
- The SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) (Correct answer)
- Acetic acid only
Correct answer: The SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast)
The SCOBY ferments sweet tea to produce kombucha containing beneficial bacteria and yeasts, organic acids, and B vitamins.
Question 7: Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome has been linked to which of the following conditions beyond digestive health?
- Hypertension alone
- Only local GI disorders
- Mental health conditions including depression and anxiety (Correct answer)
- Exclusively skin disorders
Correct answer: Mental health conditions including depression and anxiety
Gut dysbiosis has been linked to mental health conditions including depression and anxiety via the gut-brain axis, as well as autoimmune diseases, obesity, and metabolic disorders.
IIN Gut Health & Microbiome 3
Which probiotic strain is most commonly associated with vaginal health and prevention of urogenital infections?