Newswise — For World Digestive Health Day, the American College of Gastroenterology, along with World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), observes the 2014 focus on the human gut microbiome and its impact on health and disease. Scientific understanding of the gut microbiome – the diverse and complex microbial community that resides in the intestine – has rapidly evolved in recent years. Researchers observe that the gut microbiome resembles an “organ” due to its impact on human health, including metabolism, physiology, nutrition and immunity.

To mark World Digestive Health Day, the College has developed a new podcast, Probiotics: What You Need to Know, featuring Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, FACG, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Past President, American College of Gastroenterology. The podcast highlights the benefits of probiotics and offers tips for choosing and taking these beneficial bacteria. Listen to ACG’s Probiotics Patient Podcast.

In addition, the College also compiled a Glossary of the Gut Microbiome, a quick guide on commonly used terms of the intestinal microbiota. View the Gut Microbiome Glossary.

About World Digestive Health Day

World Digestive Health Day seeks to raise awareness of gastrointestinal health while bringing the latest fundamental and clinically relevant knowledge to the gastroenterologist and, through the gastroenterologist, to the public. WGO is the sponsor of World Digestive Health Day.

About the American College of Gastroenterology

Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international membership of more than 12,000 individuals from 80 countries. The College’s vision is to be the pre-eminent professional organization that champions the evolving needs of clinicians in the delivery of high quality, evidence-based, and compassionate health care to gastroenterology patients. The mission of the College is to advance world-class care for patients with gastrointestinal disorders through excellence, innovation and advocacy in the areas of scientific investigation, education, prevention and treatment. www.gi.org

About Dr. Eamonn M.M. Quigley

Eamonn M.M. Quigley, MD, FACG is the Medical Director at the Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders at Houston Methodist Hospital. He is Past President of both the American College of Gastroenterology and the World Gastroenterology Organisation. Dr. Quigley has served as consultant to Alimentary Health, Salix, and Procter & Gamble, has been a speaker for Alimentary Health and Procter & Gamble and is a non-executive director of Alimentary Health.# # #

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