Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii is a biosensor of health
I’ve talked before about the importance of having sufficient numbers of the keystone gut microbe, Akkermansia muciniphila.
There's another species called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii that's also key player and marker of gut health. Some call it ‘a potential biosensor of human health’.
It's a gram-positive, mesophilic, rod-shaped, anaerobic, highly oxygen-sensitive, non-spore forming and non-motile commensal bacteria, forming 5-15% of the human gut microbiota. In short, it’s odd.
But here are some fascinating facts about this bacteria. It…
Is present at reduced levels in people with gastrointestinal inflammatory disease e.g. IBD, IBS, coeliac disease, colorectal cancer, obesity, COVID and long COVID, type 2 diabetes
This it may be a useful potential biomarker to assist in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease discrimination
Higher amounts are associated with anti-inflammatory properties. It has been associated with higher quality of life scores
Through its fermentation of dietary fibre, it produces essential butyrate and other short chain fatty acids that feed our gut lining cells, promote immunity and are anti-inflammatory
This includes by stimulating antioxidant glutathione production, moderating the immune cells by acting on T cells and cytokines, and producing anti-inflammatory molecules
Is not detected or found at very low levels during the first 4 to 6 months of life, but it increases rapidly during the first years
Produces a range of enzymes that enable it to break down complex sugar molecules and use them for fuel in other metabolic functions
Dietary factors can influence the abundance of F. prausnitzii as this bacteria ferments soluble fibre 🥝🥗
Eating more prebiotics (fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin type fructans, raffinose e.g. asparagus, green banana, chirocy, Jerusalem artichoke, leek, onion, garlic, dandelion root) and polyphenolic compounds (grapes, red wine, apple, pear, cherries and berries) can support its growth.
In short, the best way to increase F. prausnitzii is to increase your fibre intake from a wide variety of sources.