Indole – the scent of a healthy ‘inner soil’

Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease

卷:26

Arnold Berstad¹  Jan Raa¹  Jørgen Valeur¹ 

[1] Unger-Vetlesen Institute, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway;

关键词: hydrogen peroxide;    indole;    indoleamine dioxygenase;    irritable bowel syndrome;    melatonin;    tryptophan;   

DOI  :  10.3402/mehd.v26.27997

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid with an indole nucleus. Humans cannot produce this amino acid themselves, but must obtain it through their diet. Much attention is currently paid to the wide physiological and clinical implications of the tryptophan-derived substances, serotonin and kynurenines, generated by human enzymes following the intestinal absorption of tryptophan. However, even before being absorbed, several microbial metabolites of tryptophan are formed, mainly from ‘malabsorbed’ (incompletely digested) proteins within the colon. The normal smell of human faeces is largely due to indole, one of the major metabolites. Recent studies indicate that this foul-smelling substance is also of utmost importance for our health.

【 授权许可】

Unknown