Gut microbiome dysbiosis

Gut microbiome dysbiosis, or simply “dysbiosis”, refers to an imbalance or disruption in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which is the collection of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, along with their genes and byproducts of metabolism, e.g. postbiotics. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health by supporting digestion and nutrient absorption, regulating the immune system and influencing a whole range of physiological processes, from mood via gut-brain communication to heart and liver function, to name but a few.¹Naik SS, Ramphall S, Rijal S, Prakash V, Ekladios H, Mulayamkuzhiyil Saju J, Mandal N, Kham NI, Shahid R, Venugopal S. Association of Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Hypertension: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 4;14(10):e29927. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29927.²Tabowei G, Gaddipati GN, Mukhtar M, Alzubaidee MJ, Dwarampudi RS, Mathew S, Bichenapally S, Khachatryan V, Muazzam A, Hamal C, Velugoti LSDR, Mohammed L. Microbiota Dysbiosis a Cause of Colorectal Cancer or Not? A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 31;14(10):e30893. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30893.³Evans T, Ali U, Anderton R, Raby E, Manning L, Litton E. Lower gut dysbiosis and mortality in acute critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med Exp. 2023 Feb 3;11(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40635-022-00486-z.³Evans T, Ali U, Anderton R, Raby E, Manning L, Litton E. Lower gut dysbiosis and mortality in acute critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med Exp. 2023 Feb 3;11(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40635-022-00486-z.⁴Rashid S, Noor TA, Saeed H, Ali AS, Meheshwari G, Mehmood A, Fatima L, Zaidi SMJ, Malik J, Mehmoodi A, Hayat A. Association of gut microbiome dysbiosis with the progression of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2023 Jul;28(4):e13059. doi: 10.1111/anec.13059.⁵Liu S, Li G, Xu H, Wang Q, Wei Y, Yang Q, Xiong A, Yu F, Weng J, Zeng H. “Cross-talk” between gut microbiome dysbiosis and osteoarthritis progression: a systematic review. Front Immunol. 2023 Apr 25;14:1150572. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150572.⁶Wang Y, Wei J, Zhang W, Doherty M, Zhang Y, Xie H, Li W, Wang N, Lei G, Zeng C. Gut dysbiosis in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 92 observational studies. EBioMedicine. 2022 Jun;80:104055. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104055.⁷Ranjbar M, Salehi R, Haghjooy Javanmard S, Rafiee L, Faraji H, Jafarpor S, Ferns GA, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Manian M, Nedaeinia R. The dysbiosis signature of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer-cause or consequences? A systematic review. Cancer Cell Int. 2021 Apr 6;21(1):194. doi: 10.1186/s12935-021-01886-z.

What causes dysbiosis in the gut microbiome?

Several factors contribute to dysbiosis, including:

1. Poor diet: Consuming a diet that’s rich in ultra-processed foods, sugar, unhealthy fats, and low in fibre can negatively impact the diversity and abundance of beneficial gut bacteria.
2. Antibiotic use: Antibiotics are known to disrupt the gut microbiome by killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria, leading to an imbalance. This is made worse by the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics as well as previously (or at all), making it possible for them to migrate to the colon, where they can “hide” in biofilms.⁸Gobbo MM, Bomfim MB, Alves WY, Oliveira KC, Corsetti PP, de Almeida LA. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and autoimmune disease: A systematic review of preclinical studies. Autoimmun Rev. 2022 Sep;21(9):103140. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103140.⁹Ancona G, Alagna L, Alteri C, Palomba E, Tonizzo A, Pastena A, Muscatello A, Gori A, Bandera A. Gut and airway microbiota dysbiosis and their role in COVID-19 and long-COVID. Front Immunol. 2023 Mar 8;14:1080043. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1080043.
3. Chronic stress: Prolonged stress and anxiety affect gut-brain communication and impact the composition of the gut microbiome.¹⁰Liu Y, Wang H, Gui S, Zeng B, Pu J, Zheng P, Zeng L, Luo Y, Wu Y, Zhou C, Song J, Ji P, Wei H, Xie P. Proteomics analysis of the gut-brain axis in a gut microbiota-dysbiosis model of depression. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Nov 8;11(1):568. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01689-w.¹¹Gao F, Guo R, Ma Q, Li Y, Wang W, Fan Y, Ju Y, Zhao B, Gao Y, Qian L, Yang Z, He X, Jin X, Liu Y, Peng Y, Chen C, Chen Y, Gao C, Zhu F, Ma X. Stressful events induce long-term gut microbiota dysbiosis and associated post-traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare workers fighting against COVID-19. J Affect Disord. 2022 Apr 15;303:187-195. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.024.
4. Infection or illness: Certain infections or illnesses can disrupt the balance of your gut microbial ecosystem and lead to dysbiosis.¹²Yan F, Zhang Q, Shi K, Zhang Y, Zhu B, Bi Y, Wang X. Gut microbiota dysbiosis with hepatitis B virus liver disease and association with immune response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 May 2;13:1152987. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1152987.¹³Chang SH, Choi Y. Gut dysbiosis in autoimmune diseases: Association with mortality. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Mar 31;13:1157918. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1157918.

How does gut microbiome dysbiosis affect your health?

The impact of gut microbiome dysbiosis on human health can be significant, particularly if the imbalance is present for a long time. Some potential consequences of dysbiosis include:

1. Digestive issues: Dysbiosis may contribute to the development of digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dysbiosis can also affect the severity of symptoms, e.g. bloating, bowel motion frequency, etc.¹⁴Di Rosa C, Altomare A, Terrigno V, Carbone F, Tack J, Cicala M, Guarino MPL. Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C): Effects of Different Nutritional Patterns on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Symptoms. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 28;15(7):1647. doi: 10.3390/nu15071647.¹⁵Kim GH, Lee K, Shim JO. Gut Bacterial Dysbiosis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Case-Control Study and a Cross-Cohort Analysis Using Publicly Available Data Sets. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Feb 14;11(1):e0212522. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02125-22.
2. Immune dysfunction: Imbalances in the gut microbiome can impair immune function, leading to increased susceptibility to infections, allergies, and autoimmune conditions.¹⁶Lo Conte M, Cosorich I, Ferrarese R, Antonini Cencicchio M, Nobili A, Palmieri V, Massimino L, Lamparelli LA, Liang W, Riba M, Devecchi E, Bolla AM, Pedone E, Scavini M, Bosi E, Fasano A, Ungaro F, Diana J, Mancini N, Falcone M. Alterations of the intestinal mucus layer correlate with dysbiosis and immune dysregulation in human Type 1 Diabetes. EBioMedicine. 2023 May;91:104567. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104567.¹⁷Asai N, Mikamo H. COVID-19 disease severity is linked to host immunity as well as lung and gut dysbiosis: a narrative review. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2021 Dec;27:282-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2021.10.009.¹⁸Valverde-Molina J, García-Marcos L. Microbiome and Asthma: Microbial Dysbiosis and the Origins, Phenotypes, Persistence, and Severity of Asthma. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 17;15(3):486. doi: 10.3390/nu15030486.
3. Mental health disorders: Emerging research suggests a connection between gut dysbiosis and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction.¹⁹Dahiya D, Nigam PS. Antibiotic-Therapy-Induced Gut Dysbiosis Affecting Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis and Cognition: Restoration by Intake of Probiotics and Synbiotics. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 4;24(4):3074. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043074.²⁰Capuco A, Urits I, Hasoon J, Chun R, Gerald B, Wang JK, Kassem H, Ngo AL, Abd-Elsayed A, Simopoulos T, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. Current Perspectives on Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Depression. Adv Ther. 2020 Apr;37(4):1328-1346. doi: 10.1007/s12325-020-01272-7.
4. Metabolic disorders: Research has identified links between dysbiosis and obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.²¹Darra A, Singh V, Jena A, Popli P, Nada R, Gupta P, Bhadada SK, Singh AK, Sharma V, Bhattacharya A, Agrawal A, Dutta U. Hyperglycemia is associated with duodenal dysbiosis and altered duodenal microenvironment. Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 7;13(1):11038. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37720-x.²²Rosendo-Silva D, Viana S, Carvalho E, Reis F, Matafome P. Are gut dysbiosis, barrier disruption, and endotoxemia related to adipose tissue dysfunction in metabolic disorders? Overview of the mechanisms involved. Intern Emerg Med. 2023 Aug;18(5):1287-1302. doi: 10.1007/s11739-023-03262-3.²³Sun Y, Gao S, Ye C, Zhao W. Gut microbiota dysbiosis in polycystic ovary syndrome: Mechanisms of progression and clinical applications. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Feb 24;13:1142041. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1142041.
5. Inflammation and chronic diseases: Imbalances in the gut microbiome can promote chronic inflammation, particularly in situations where pathogenic microbes are overabundant and health-promoting/probiotic microbes are crowded out. This is linked to various chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and can even affect the progression of certain cancers.²⁴Chattopadhyay I, Gundamaraju R, Jha NK, Gupta PK, Dey A, Mandal CC, Ford BM. Interplay between Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiome, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumorigenesis: Can Gut Dysbiosis Stand as a Prognostic Marker in Cancer? Dis Markers. 2022 Feb 8;2022:2941248. doi: 10.1155/2022/2941248.²⁵Zhao M, Chu J, Feng S, Guo C, Xue B, He K, Li L. Immunological mechanisms of inflammatory diseases caused by gut microbiota dysbiosis: A review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Aug;164:114985. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114985.²⁶Worby CJ, Schreiber HL 4th, Straub TJ, van Dijk LR, Bronson RA, Olson BS, Pinkner JS, Obernuefemann CLP, Muñoz VL, Paharik AE, Azimzadeh PN, Walker BJ, Desjardins CA, Chou WC, Bergeron K, Chapman SB, Klim A, Manson AL, Hannan TJ, Hooton TM, Kau AL, Lai HH, Dodson KW, Hultgren SJ, Earl AM. Longitudinal multi-omics analyses link gut microbiome dysbiosis with recurrent urinary tract infections in women. Nat Microbiol. 2022 May;7(5):630-639. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01107-x.

How is dysbiosis managed?

Managing dysbiosis involves changes to food choices, the use of probiotic foods such as kefir, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, the use of natural antimicrobials, and other targeted dietary changes and lifestyle modifications based on individual needs and underlying conditions.²⁷Peluzio MDCG, Dias MME, Martinez JA, Milagro FI. Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 22;8:638740. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.638740.²⁸Appanna VD. Dysbiosis, Probiotics, and Prebiotics: In Diseases and Health. Human Microbes – The Power Within. 2018 Feb 6:81–122. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-7684-8_3.²⁹Peterson CT, Sharma V, Elmén L, Peterson SN. Immune homeostasis, dysbiosis and therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota. Clin Exp Immunol. 2015 Mar;179(3):363-77. doi: 10.1111/cei.12474. The specific impact of dysbiosis can vary among individuals. Guidance on how to work with dysbiosis will be featured in your Personal Action Plan. Please note that this information 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 if you have any questions about dysbiosis.

Synonyms: microbial imbalance, microbiota imbalance, gut flora imbalance, gut microbial imbalance

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
  Naik SS, Ramphall S, Rijal S, Prakash V, Ekladios H, Mulayamkuzhiyil Saju J, Mandal N, Kham NI, Shahid R, Venugopal S. Association of Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Hypertension: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 4;14(10):e29927. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29927.
• 2
  Tabowei G, Gaddipati GN, Mukhtar M, Alzubaidee MJ, Dwarampudi RS, Mathew S, Bichenapally S, Khachatryan V, Muazzam A, Hamal C, Velugoti LSDR, Mohammed L. Microbiota Dysbiosis a Cause of Colorectal Cancer or Not? A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 31;14(10):e30893. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30893.
• 3
  Evans T, Ali U, Anderton R, Raby E, Manning L, Litton E. Lower gut dysbiosis and mortality in acute critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med Exp. 2023 Feb 3;11(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40635-022-00486-z.³Evans T, Ali U, Anderton R, Raby E, Manning L, Litton E. Lower gut dysbiosis and mortality in acute critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med Exp. 2023 Feb 3;11(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40635-022-00486-z.
• 4
  Rashid S, Noor TA, Saeed H, Ali AS, Meheshwari G, Mehmood A, Fatima L, Zaidi SMJ, Malik J, Mehmoodi A, Hayat A. Association of gut microbiome dysbiosis with the progression of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2023 Jul;28(4):e13059. doi: 10.1111/anec.13059.
• 5
  Liu S, Li G, Xu H, Wang Q, Wei Y, Yang Q, Xiong A, Yu F, Weng J, Zeng H. “Cross-talk” between gut microbiome dysbiosis and osteoarthritis progression: a systematic review. Front Immunol. 2023 Apr 25;14:1150572. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150572.
• 6
  Wang Y, Wei J, Zhang W, Doherty M, Zhang Y, Xie H, Li W, Wang N, Lei G, Zeng C. Gut dysbiosis in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 92 observational studies. EBioMedicine. 2022 Jun;80:104055. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104055.
• 7
  Ranjbar M, Salehi R, Haghjooy Javanmard S, Rafiee L, Faraji H, Jafarpor S, Ferns GA, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Manian M, Nedaeinia R. The dysbiosis signature of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer-cause or consequences? A systematic review. Cancer Cell Int. 2021 Apr 6;21(1):194. doi: 10.1186/s12935-021-01886-z.
• 8
  Gobbo MM, Bomfim MB, Alves WY, Oliveira KC, Corsetti PP, de Almeida LA. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and autoimmune disease: A systematic review of preclinical studies. Autoimmun Rev. 2022 Sep;21(9):103140. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103140.
• 9
  Ancona G, Alagna L, Alteri C, Palomba E, Tonizzo A, Pastena A, Muscatello A, Gori A, Bandera A. Gut and airway microbiota dysbiosis and their role in COVID-19 and long-COVID. Front Immunol. 2023 Mar 8;14:1080043. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1080043.
• 10
  Liu Y, Wang H, Gui S, Zeng B, Pu J, Zheng P, Zeng L, Luo Y, Wu Y, Zhou C, Song J, Ji P, Wei H, Xie P. Proteomics analysis of the gut-brain axis in a gut microbiota-dysbiosis model of depression. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Nov 8;11(1):568. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01689-w.
• 11
  Gao F, Guo R, Ma Q, Li Y, Wang W, Fan Y, Ju Y, Zhao B, Gao Y, Qian L, Yang Z, He X, Jin X, Liu Y, Peng Y, Chen C, Chen Y, Gao C, Zhu F, Ma X. Stressful events induce long-term gut microbiota dysbiosis and associated post-traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare workers fighting against COVID-19. J Affect Disord. 2022 Apr 15;303:187-195. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.024.
• 12
  Yan F, Zhang Q, Shi K, Zhang Y, Zhu B, Bi Y, Wang X. Gut microbiota dysbiosis with hepatitis B virus liver disease and association with immune response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 May 2;13:1152987. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1152987.
• 13
  Chang SH, Choi Y. Gut dysbiosis in autoimmune diseases: Association with mortality. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Mar 31;13:1157918. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1157918.
• 14
  Di Rosa C, Altomare A, Terrigno V, Carbone F, Tack J, Cicala M, Guarino MPL. Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C): Effects of Different Nutritional Patterns on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Symptoms. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 28;15(7):1647. doi: 10.3390/nu15071647.
• 15
  Kim GH, Lee K, Shim JO. Gut Bacterial Dysbiosis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Case-Control Study and a Cross-Cohort Analysis Using Publicly Available Data Sets. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Feb 14;11(1):e0212522. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02125-22.
• 16
  Lo Conte M, Cosorich I, Ferrarese R, Antonini Cencicchio M, Nobili A, Palmieri V, Massimino L, Lamparelli LA, Liang W, Riba M, Devecchi E, Bolla AM, Pedone E, Scavini M, Bosi E, Fasano A, Ungaro F, Diana J, Mancini N, Falcone M. Alterations of the intestinal mucus layer correlate with dysbiosis and immune dysregulation in human Type 1 Diabetes. EBioMedicine. 2023 May;91:104567. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104567.
• 17
  Asai N, Mikamo H. COVID-19 disease severity is linked to host immunity as well as lung and gut dysbiosis: a narrative review. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2021 Dec;27:282-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2021.10.009.
• 18
  Valverde-Molina J, García-Marcos L. Microbiome and Asthma: Microbial Dysbiosis and the Origins, Phenotypes, Persistence, and Severity of Asthma. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 17;15(3):486. doi: 10.3390/nu15030486.
• 19
  Dahiya D, Nigam PS. Antibiotic-Therapy-Induced Gut Dysbiosis Affecting Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis and Cognition: Restoration by Intake of Probiotics and Synbiotics. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 4;24(4):3074. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043074.
• 20
  Capuco A, Urits I, Hasoon J, Chun R, Gerald B, Wang JK, Kassem H, Ngo AL, Abd-Elsayed A, Simopoulos T, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. Current Perspectives on Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Depression. Adv Ther. 2020 Apr;37(4):1328-1346. doi: 10.1007/s12325-020-01272-7.
• 21
  Darra A, Singh V, Jena A, Popli P, Nada R, Gupta P, Bhadada SK, Singh AK, Sharma V, Bhattacharya A, Agrawal A, Dutta U. Hyperglycemia is associated with duodenal dysbiosis and altered duodenal microenvironment. Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 7;13(1):11038. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37720-x.
• 22
  Rosendo-Silva D, Viana S, Carvalho E, Reis F, Matafome P. Are gut dysbiosis, barrier disruption, and endotoxemia related to adipose tissue dysfunction in metabolic disorders? Overview of the mechanisms involved. Intern Emerg Med. 2023 Aug;18(5):1287-1302. doi: 10.1007/s11739-023-03262-3.
• 23
  Sun Y, Gao S, Ye C, Zhao W. Gut microbiota dysbiosis in polycystic ovary syndrome: Mechanisms of progression and clinical applications. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Feb 24;13:1142041. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1142041.
• 24
  Chattopadhyay I, Gundamaraju R, Jha NK, Gupta PK, Dey A, Mandal CC, Ford BM. Interplay between Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiome, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumorigenesis: Can Gut Dysbiosis Stand as a Prognostic Marker in Cancer? Dis Markers. 2022 Feb 8;2022:2941248. doi: 10.1155/2022/2941248.
• 25
  Zhao M, Chu J, Feng S, Guo C, Xue B, He K, Li L. Immunological mechanisms of inflammatory diseases caused by gut microbiota dysbiosis: A review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Aug;164:114985. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114985.
• 26
  Worby CJ, Schreiber HL 4th, Straub TJ, van Dijk LR, Bronson RA, Olson BS, Pinkner JS, Obernuefemann CLP, Muñoz VL, Paharik AE, Azimzadeh PN, Walker BJ, Desjardins CA, Chou WC, Bergeron K, Chapman SB, Klim A, Manson AL, Hannan TJ, Hooton TM, Kau AL, Lai HH, Dodson KW, Hultgren SJ, Earl AM. Longitudinal multi-omics analyses link gut microbiome dysbiosis with recurrent urinary tract infections in women. Nat Microbiol. 2022 May;7(5):630-639. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01107-x.
• 27
  Peluzio MDCG, Dias MME, Martinez JA, Milagro FI. Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 22;8:638740. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.638740.
• 28
  Appanna VD. Dysbiosis, Probiotics, and Prebiotics: In Diseases and Health. Human Microbes – The Power Within. 2018 Feb 6:81–122. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-7684-8_3.
• 29
  Peterson CT, Sharma V, Elmén L, Peterson SN. Immune homeostasis, dysbiosis and therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota. Clin Exp Immunol. 2015 Mar;179(3):363-77. doi: 10.1111/cei.12474.

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