283 ‒ Gut health & the microbiome: improving and maintaining the microbiome, probiotics, & more

In this episode, we discuss:
0:00:34 - Colleen’s background and current focus
0:03:08 - The basics of the microbiome
0:12:37 - The study of the human microbiome
0:17:42 - Categories of bacteria, and the implications on health of the rapid evolution of bacteria
0:27:51 - Methods for measuring and understanding the microbiome, and key indicators of microbiome health
0:39:52 - The important role of fiber for promoting gut health through the production of butyrate
0:47:21 - The case for manipulating gut bacteria via fecal microbiota transplant (FMT)
0:53:25 - Dynamics of the microbiome: the gut-brain connection and how antibiotics, nutrition, stress, and more impact the microbiome's diversity and function
0:59:16 - Factors that influence the vaginal microbiome
1:03:46 - The effect of gut microbes on obesity and challenges with fecal transplants in people
1:06:25 - Beneficial strains of gut bacteria and strains commonly found in probiotics
1:16:35 - The difference between a probiotic and prebiotic, and how CFUs are a measure of the “active ingredient”
1:21:47 - Considerations about how probiotic strains are produced, and more on the meaning of CFU
1:31:12 - Mitigating the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome
1:39:58 - What do we know about the effect of artificial sweeteners on the gut microbiome?
1:47:02 - Why Akkermansia is a keystone strain with implications for metabolic health and an individual’s response to dietary interventions
1:58:14 - The essential steps necessary to develop a robust probiotic for optimal health support
2:01:45 - How Akkermansia helps control blood glucose, and potential implications of Akkermansia in weight loss, diabetes management, and more
2:22:46 - Pendulum Therapeutics’ commitment to rigorous product develop
2:29:54 - Details about the probiotic “Glucose Control” and other probiotics developed by Pendulum Therapeutics
2:38:43 - Further studies of Akkermansia that have been proposed or are underway