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Inside your digestive system live trillions of microorganisms, forming the gut microbiome. They assist with food digestion, reinforce immune defenses, and help regulate energy metabolism throughout the body. Recent scientific findings indicate that these microbes could also help shape muscle strength. As we get older, muscle strength naturally declines. Exercise and proper nutrition are proven ways to slow this process, but scientists are increasingly pointing to the gut microbiome as another key factor.
Researchers identified a key microbe from the Roseburia genus that appears more frequently in people exhibiting stronger muscles. This microbe is already recognized for generating beneficial metabolites in the gut during digestion, and emerging data suggest it could additionally bolster muscle function and resilience.
To examine these associations, the study enrolled 90 healthy young volunteers (18–25 years) and 33 older volunteers (65+ years). Fitness evaluations included key strength measures and oxygen consumption, a standard indicator of aerobic capacity during maximal exertion.
By analyzing stool microbiomes from the volunteers, the scientists uncovered a clear connection with Roseburia inulinivorans. Notably, older adults with this species present had 29% higher handgrip strength compared to those without it. In the young group, elevated levels of this bacterium corresponded to both stronger grip and enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness.
Although the human observations revealed a link, the team needed proof of direct causation, thus turning to mouse models for controlled testing. The researchers supplemented antibiotic-treated mice with the live bacterium. Strikingly, grip strength in the forelimbs rose by about 30%. The muscles adapted too, with treated mice displaying larger fiber sizes and structural enhancements.
Highlighting an age gap, the data showed Roseburia inulinivorans occurring less often and in smaller amounts among older adults. Researchers suggest this microbial decline may help account for the common loss of muscle strength in later life.
Future research is needed to determine whether the gut bacteria directly strengthens muscles or if people with stronger muscles naturally have higher levels of this bacterium in their gut. Even so, the findings point to an intriguing connection between the gut and muscle health that scientists are only beginning to understand.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Roseburia inulinivorans increases muscle strength
For many people, grabbing a hot drink in a disposable cup is part of their daily routine. Yet the container holding your coffee or tea may not be as harmless as it seems. New research suggests the very cup designed to keep your drink hot could also be releasing tiny plastic particles into it.
Not all disposable cups release microplastics at the same rate. Researchers found that the cup material and beverage temperature both affect how many tiny plastic particles leach into a drink. Although microplastics were detected across all temperatures tested, hotter beverages triggered significantly greater particle release.
Measuring less than 5 millimeters, microplastics have emerged as an increasing public health concern. These tiny particles can enter the body through food, beverages, or the air we breathe, where they may build up in organs including the lungs and digestive system and contribute to inflammation and other health problems.
The study combined evidence from previous research with new laboratory testing. Researchers first reviewed 30 published studies, compiling 237 observations to assess how variables such as water temperature and soaking time influenced microplastic release. They then tested two popular types of disposable cups, those made entirely of polyethylene (PE) and paper cups with a polyethylene coating, to compare how much microplastic each released.
Researchers found that hot water caused the surface of polyethylene (PE) cups to become increasingly rough and irregular, a sign of physical degradation that likely contributed to greater microplastic shedding. By comparison, paper cups coated with polyethylene maintained smoother surfaces with less visible damage, which may have helped limit the release of plastic particles.
The study estimated that a single 10-ounce hot beverage consumed each day could add hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles to a person's yearly intake. Drinks served in polyethylene (PE) cups were associated with roughly 360,000 particles per year, while polyethylene-coated paper cups were estimated to release about 240,000 annually.
The healthiest and most environmentally friendly choice is a reusable cup made from stainless steel, glass or ceramic. Because these materials are non-reactive, they won't break down or release chemicals or plastic particles when filled with hot beverages.
Maintaining a healthy weight is becoming increasingly uncommon, with only one in four U.S. adults falling into that category. New research suggests excess weight may be responsible for significantly more cancers than once thought. After analyzing data from more than 450,000 people, researchers estimated that excess body fat is linked to over 11% of all cancer cases, nearly twice earlier estimates.
Being alone isn't necessarily harmful, but feeling lonely may be. According to a new study, older adults who experience persistent loneliness may face a faster decline in both cognitive and physical health. The researchers found that loneliness remained strongly linked to poorer brain health and an increased risk of early death, regardless of how socially isolated a person was.