Science: "This edible sensor could reveal what our gut microbes are up to"

[Andy]

Short article

Wouldn’t it be nice if our microbiomes could serve up diet advice—some science-based assurance that our food and medicines act in harmony with our resident microbes to keep us healthy? For that to happen, scientists will need to better understand how the interaction between food and microbes affects the chemical composition of our guts. Now, a team of researchers has developed an edible device that passes through the digestive tract, measuring concentrations of intestinal gases along the way.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/01/edible-sensor-could-reveal-what-our-gut-microbes-are

 

[Skycloud]

My gut response? Seems fart oo unlikely tumm-y.

 

[Andy]

My gut response? Seems fart oo unlikely tumm-y.

Groan. That's a post so inedible it's hard to stomach.

 

[Forbin]

Hmmm. Sounds like food for thought.

"Mmmmmm.... Sensor-licious."

 

[Forbin]

Actually, I think this is pretty interesting, although I'm not sure how much can be extrapolated from measuring just oxygen, CO2, and hydrogen.

It might be interesting if a pill like this could sample the microbiome in some unreachable place, like the center of the small intestine, and return it for analysis. I kind of doubt that on-board analysis would be possible, then again - people are playing video games on what would have been considered supercomputers in the early 1990's.

 

[Skycloud]

I'm feeling a little guilty that I've not responded to the study seriously, so:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-017-0004-x
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-017-0004-x

A human pilot trial of ingestible electronic capsules capable of sensing different gases in the gut
Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh (corresponding author ) et al

Abstract
Ingestible sensors are potentially a powerful tool for monitoring human health. Sensors have been developed that can, for example, provide pH and pressure readings or monitor medication, but capsules that can provide key information about the chemical composition of the gut are still not available. Here we report a human pilot trial of an ingestible electronic capsule that can sense oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The capsule uses a combination of thermal conductivity and semiconducting sensors, and their selectivity and sensitivity to different gases is controlled by adjusting the heating elements of the sensors. Gas profiles of the subjects were obtained while modulating gut microbial fermentative activities by altering their intake of dietary fibre. Ultrasound imaging confirmed that the oxygen-equivalent concentration profile could be used as an accurate marker for the location of the capsule. In a crossover study, variations of fibre intake were found to be associated with differing small intestinal and colonic transit times, and gut fermentation. Regional fermentation patterns could be defined via hydrogen gas profiles. Our gas capsule offers an accurate and safe tool for monitoring the effects of diet of individuals, and has the potential to be used as a diagnostic tool for the gut.