Dysbiosis
Encyclopedia
Dysbiosis refers to a condition with microbial imbalances on or within the body. Dysbiosis is most prominent in the digestive tract or on the skin, but can also occur on any exposed surface or mucous membrane
such as the vagina, lungs, nose, sinuses, ears, nails, or eyes. It has been associated with different illnesses, like inflammatory bowel disease
and chronic fatigue syndrome
.
In small amounts the microbial colonies found on or in the body are benign or beneficial
in most cases. These beneficial and appropriately sized microbial colonies carry out a series of helpful and necessary functions. They also protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. These beneficial microbial colonies also compete with each other keeping one another in check so no specific microbial colony dominates.
When this balance is disturbed, by such diverse things as repeated and inappropriate antibiotic exposure or alcohol misuse, these colonies exhibit a decreased ability to check each other's growth. This can lead to an overgrowth of one or more of the disturbed colonies which then may damage some of the other smaller beneficial ones.
This type of situation often instigates a vicious cycle. As more beneficial colonies are damaged, making the imbalance more pronounced, more overgrowth issues occur since the damaged colonies are less able to check the growth of the overgrowing ones. If this goes unchecked long enough, a pervasive and chronic
imbalance between colonies will set in, which ultimately minimizes the beneficial nature of these colonies as a whole.
Microbial colonies also excrete many different types of waste byproducts. Using different waste removal mechanisms, under normal circumstances the body effectively manages these byproducts with little or no trouble. Unfortunately, over-sized and inappropriately large colonies, due to their increased numbers, excrete increased amounts of these byproducts. As the amount of microbial byproducts increases, the higher waste byproducts levels can overburden the body's waste removal mechanisms.
It is the combination of these two negative outcomes that causes many of the negative health symptoms observed when dysbiosis is present.
Mucous membrane
The mucous membranes are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs...
such as the vagina, lungs, nose, sinuses, ears, nails, or eyes. It has been associated with different illnesses, like inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
In medicine, inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. The major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.-Classification:...
and chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
.
In small amounts the microbial colonies found on or in the body are benign or beneficial
Probiotic
Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to be beneficial to the host organism. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO/WHO, probiotics are: "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host"...
in most cases. These beneficial and appropriately sized microbial colonies carry out a series of helpful and necessary functions. They also protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. These beneficial microbial colonies also compete with each other keeping one another in check so no specific microbial colony dominates.
When this balance is disturbed, by such diverse things as repeated and inappropriate antibiotic exposure or alcohol misuse, these colonies exhibit a decreased ability to check each other's growth. This can lead to an overgrowth of one or more of the disturbed colonies which then may damage some of the other smaller beneficial ones.
This type of situation often instigates a vicious cycle. As more beneficial colonies are damaged, making the imbalance more pronounced, more overgrowth issues occur since the damaged colonies are less able to check the growth of the overgrowing ones. If this goes unchecked long enough, a pervasive and chronic
Chronic (medicine)
A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.In medicine, the...
imbalance between colonies will set in, which ultimately minimizes the beneficial nature of these colonies as a whole.
Microbial colonies also excrete many different types of waste byproducts. Using different waste removal mechanisms, under normal circumstances the body effectively manages these byproducts with little or no trouble. Unfortunately, over-sized and inappropriately large colonies, due to their increased numbers, excrete increased amounts of these byproducts. As the amount of microbial byproducts increases, the higher waste byproducts levels can overburden the body's waste removal mechanisms.
It is the combination of these two negative outcomes that causes many of the negative health symptoms observed when dysbiosis is present.
External Links
- Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease