Gut Health & Microbiome Flashcards

Which fermented food is traditionally made from salted, fermented cabbage and is rich in Lactobacillus bacteria?

Answer: Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is made from salted, fermented cabbage and contains Lactobacillus species that support gut microbiome diversity.

The gut-brain axis communicates primarily through which nerve?

Answer: Vagus nerve

The vagus nerve is the primary pathway of the gut-brain axis, transmitting signals bidirectionally between the enteric and central nervous systems.

Approximately what percentage of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut?

Answer: 95%

About 95% of the body's serotonin is produced by enterochromaffin cells in the gut, highlighting the gut's role in mood regulation.

Which type of dietary fiber selectively feeds beneficial bacteria and is classified as a prebiotic?

Answer: Inulin

Inulin is a prebiotic fiber found in foods like chicory root and garlic that selectively stimulates growth of beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species.

Intestinal permeability, sometimes called 'leaky gut,' refers to increased permeability of which structure?

Answer: The tight junctions between epithelial cells

Leaky gut involves breakdown of tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells, allowing undigested particles and toxins to pass into the bloodstream.

Which short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) is the primary energy source for colonocytes?

Answer: Butyrate

Butyrate is the preferred energy substrate for colonocytes (colon lining cells) and also has anti-inflammatory and gut-protective properties.

Which condition is characterized by an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine?

Answer: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally colonize the large intestine migrate and proliferate in the small intestine, causing bloating, gas, and malabsorption.