Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD and his colleagues out of Mayo Clinic wondered whether those with a chronic autoimmune disorder, such as multiple sclerosis, would have a gut microbiome that is different than the microbiome found in healthy individuals.
Microbiome analysis was conducted on fecal samples collected from MS patients and healthy individuals. In a study published online in the journal Scientific Reports, Mangalam and his team say that MS patients do, in fact, have a distinct microbiome from their healthy peers. Find and read the study here
Preliminary data suggests patients with MS have reduced levels of good bacteria responsible for overall benefits obtained from consuming healthy foods, and more research is needed to confirm the findings on a larger patient population.
Mangalam joined UI in 2015 and is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the Carver College of Medicine and is a collaborator with The Wahls Foundation.
