Imbalance of the Intestinal Flora (Dysbiosis): Causes

Pathogenesis (development of disease)

Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the structural or functional composition of the microbiota (intestinal flora, intestinal microbiota, intestinal microbiome). It can be caused by a variety of diseases, but also by their therapies. The physiological microbiome is dominated by bacteria, but also consists of organisms such as viruses, animal protozoa and archaea (primordial bacteria). The importance of the microbiome is manifold: it supports the human body in breaking down plant food components, influences energy metabolism, mineral absorption and synthesizes vitamins. Furthermore, it promotes the maturation of the immune system and provides a defense against pathogenic microorganisms. See also “Microbiological therapy (symbiosis control)”. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence the intestinal microbiome (intestinal flora). Even the mode of delivery determines the initial microbial colonization. In vaginal delivery (natural childbirth), the infant microbiome is significantly shaped by the mother’s vaginal flora (vaginal flora) and the skin microbiome. In the case of caesarean section, only the skin microbiome can contribute to the microbial colonization of the child.Breastfeeding and later complementary feeding also influence the individual microbial composition of the intestinal flora (gut flora). Note that the ratio of the number of microbes in and on us to the number of our body cells is 10 to 1.

Etiology (Causes)

Biographic causes

  • Age of life – increasing age (= reduction in stability and diversity of the microbiome).

Behavioral causes

  • Nutrition
    • Malnutrition and undernutrition – a.o. also.
      • Low fiber diet
      • Too much sugar (mono- and disaccharides; especially sucrose) and white flour products
    • Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances): e.g. probiotics (living microorganisms) – see prevention with micronutrients.
  • Pleasure food consumption
    • Alcohol
    • Coffee
    • Tobacco (smoking)
  • Psycho-social situation
    • Stress

Causes related to disease

  • Allergies
  • Chronic pancreatic insufficiency (weakness of the pancreas)
  • Depression
  • Diseases of the liver (especially cirrhosis).
  • Diseases of the digestive system
  • Food intolerances – fructose, gluten, lactose.

Medications

  • Analgesics/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Anti-infectives against viruses, fungi or parasites
  • Antibiotics (broad spectrum of activity reduces microbial diversity)Note: The broader the spectrum of activity and the longer the duration of therapy, the greater the microbiome damage!
    • The frequent or long-term treatment of premature infants with antibiotics led to a strong disturbance of the intestinal flora: fewer “healthy” bacterial groups such as Bifidobacteriaceae (the only bacterial family in the order of Bifidobacteriales) and more frequently “unhealthy” species such as Proteobacteria (= “microbiotic scar”) were found in a follow-up examination at the age of 21 months.
  • Antidepressants – atypical antipsychotics.
  • Antihistamines
  • Beta blockers
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Corticoids (cortisol)
  • Gold (bactericidal)
  • Laxatives (osmotic laxatives).
  • Metformin
  • Ovulation inhibitor
  • Proton pump inhibitors (proton pump inhibitors, PPI; acid blockers) (due toblocked gastric acid production).
  • Statins
  • Cytostatics
  • Et al

Notice: Antibiotics are not the only drugs that kill intestinal bacteria; of more than 1,000 approved drugs, one in four agents alters the composition of intestinal flora

X-rays

Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).