1.4 Bacteia In The Gut Flashcards
What is ‘healthy gut flora’?
Useful bacteria in the gut that releases useful compounds into the gut and compete with harmful bacteria
Why is vitamin K essential?
Needed by the liver to synthesise thrombin (enzyme needed for blood clotting)
Where is vitamin K1 found?
In dark green vegetables and in some oils (from diet)
Where is vitamin K2 found?
Produced by some bacteria that live in the intestines - E.coli (uses it in respiration, and released when die)
Absorbed by the body to be used in the liver
Babies are born with sterile guts as…
There are no bacteria anywhere in their intestines due them developing inside the uterus
What is haemorrhagic disease of the newborn?
Blood does not clot properly - occurs in 8.6 babies/100,000
Symptoms of haemorrhagic disease are…
Bleeding in intestines
Bleeding from skin and mucous membranes (nose & gums)
Prolonged bleeding after circumcision
Bleeding from the umbilical stump
How can haemorrhagic disease be prevented?
Giving the baby vitamin K on first day of life by mouth or by injection - more important for breastfed babies as formula contains Vitamin K
Positives of probiotics
Compete with pathogens
Bind cancer-causing chemicals (mutagens)
Produce vitamins
Bind the intestine wall (preventing harmful bacteria from attaching)
Negatives of probiotics
Likely to have ‘healthy’ bacteria in gut If you eat a healthy balanced diet - without the need to consume probiotics regularly
