The Gut Microbiome Acts Like an Extra Liver

The bacteria living in the human gut function almost like a second liver, changing how we metabolize glucose and amino acids, according to a new study. Published in Cell Host & Microbe, the study adds to a growing mountain of research indicating just how much the microbiome influences every aspect of our health. Thousands of Bacterial Species The microbiome is a buzzword these days, but it’s been around for as long as humans have. Microbes are a combination of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic organisms living inside the intestines and on the skin. Most microbes making up the gut microbiome live inside the cecum, a “pocket” of the large intestine. There are up to 1,000 species of bacteria in the gut microbiome, each with a different role....