NUNZIUM

“We are what we eat,” said the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach during the turmoil of the German revolution in 1848. This aphorism is still valid in light of the latest and most advanced research on the impact of diet on the body and health. A preclinical study, published in Nature on November 2, focused on the dietary component inulin - a common fiber present in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables such as bananas, asparagus, garlic, onions, chicory roots, leeks, and wheat. Scientists have found that inulin, besides its beneficial effect on the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract, also influences the functioning and efficacy of the immune system. It was shown that this dietary fiber alters the metabolism of certain beneficial bacteria inhabiting our gut (known as Bacteroidetes) which in turn triggers an immune response called “type 2 inflammation”. This type 2 immune response defends the body against parasitic worms (Helminths) infections, and it is also important for wound healing. More studies are now needed to understand the relevance of these findings for the human model. Indeed, in the human body, there is a large number of bacteria amounting to an average of 2 kg mass per individual. Part of these bacteria is known to contribute to many mechanisms, which include immune system functionality and its efficacy against many threats.