Do you know what GVHD and IBD are? Changes in our gut flora can result in these two significant gut disorders. But until recently, it has been unclear what causes these alterations in the first place. Researchers have shown that these alterations result from an increase in oxygen levels in our gut following intestinal injury.
The good news is that they have figured out how to fix it! They were able to restore the balance of bacteria and lessen the severity of GVHD in mice by lowering the oxygen levels in our gut. What is the tactic? An iron chelator is a medication that helps the body get rid of extra iron.
By removing iron, the researchers were able to affect alterations in the stomach. The researchers were able to restore the beneficial bacteria in the stomach and lessen the severity of GVHD by eliminating iron from the gut.
This work provides a novel, non-invasive method of treating GVHD without immune system suppression. It might also affect other digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Even though additional study is required, the preliminary results are encouraging and give those who have digestive disorders hope.
GIbiome 