Lifestyle tips from a microbiome expert: TMAO concerns, influence of smoking, sleep, and food timing

Microbes in the gut interact in complex ways with metabolism and produce beneficial metabolites that support human health. In other cases, the body, its microbes, and a food or environmental element may interact in a detrimental way. For example, a person's microbiome may promote the production of trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO), as a byproduct of L-carnitine and choline metabolism, and may influence their heart disease risk. However, Dr. Elinav cautions it is unlikely that a single factor is responsible for a diverse and complex disease such as heart disease. Furthermore, chemicals from cigarette smoke can penetrate gut tissues, influencing the microbiome. A recent finding in Dr. Elinav's lab suggests that smoking cessation-associated weight gain — a common complaint among people attempting to quit smoking — may be influenced by the gut microbiome. In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav discusses generalizable ways to foster a healthy gut microbiome.

Watch the full interview here:
   • Dr. Eran Elinav on Microbiome Insight...  

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