{"id":9718,"date":"2025-05-28T03:05:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T00:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9718"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:53:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:53:44","slug":"the-influence-of-the-microbiome-on-the-digestion-of-food-that-occurs-in-the-intestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/the-influence-of-the-microbiome-on-the-digestion-of-food-that-occurs-in-the-intestine\/","title":{"rendered":"The impact of the microbiome on food digestion: what happens in the gut"},"content":{"rendered":"

The microorganisms that live inside us may seem like outsiders, but without them, digestion would be incomplete. The gut microbiome is not just a collection of bacteria, but an active system that interacts with enzymes, the epithelium, and even the brain. In this article, we will consider the role of the microbiome precisely from the perspective of digestive mechanisms<\/strong>, which it provides.<\/p>\n

The main stages of microbiome participation in digestion<\/h2>\n

1. Help with fiber breakdown<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the small intestine, digestion of dietary fiber almost does not occur, because humans lack the enzymes for this process. The colonic microbiome, in particular bacteria of the genera Bacteroides<\/em> \u0456 Firmicutes<\/em>. They break down cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins to form short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which provide energy for intestinal cells.<\/p>\n

2. Synthesis of nutrients and metabolites<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some of the vitamins and compounds that the body uses are formed precisely as a result of microbial activity. These include:<\/p>\n