Signals from the gut microbiota to distant organs in physiology and disease.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts without systematic review methodology or primary human data.
PubMed 27711063 · doi:10.1038/nm.4185
What was done
This narrative review summarizes literature on the communication pathways between the gut microbiota and distant extraintestinal organs, focusing on how diet-derived microbial metabolites interact with host immune, endocrine, metabolic, and neural systems (the gut-brain axis).
What was found
No quantitative data, effect sizes, or participant numbers are reported in the abstract. The authors describe that microbiota-derived metabolites serve as essential signaling molecules maintaining normal host physiology, whereas disrupted signaling is associated with obesity, inflammatory diseases, and behavioral and physiological abnormalities in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Why it matters
The review synthesizes conceptual frameworks for understanding how intestinal microbes act as a systemic signaling hub influencing multi-organ physiology and disease pathogenesis.
Limits
The abstract describes a narrative review without systematic search criteria, quantitative synthesis, or original clinical trial data. It relies largely on mechanistic and associative evidence where causality and effect sizes in humans are not established.
Cited by
- supports The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms that line the digestive tract and impact immune status, metabolic health, and hormone health.
- supports The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms that line the digestive tract and impact immune status, metabolic health, and hormone health.