Is the Gut Our Second Brain?

Intestinal and brain formation starts from the same tissue cluster in the womb and divides during embryo development. The divided tissue is divided into the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the enteric nervous system consists of the digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus.

Is the gut our second brain?

The formation of the intestine and brain starts from the same set of tissues in the womb and divides during embryo development. The dividing tissue is divided into the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the enteric nervous system consists of the digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus.

The enteric nervous system is a complex system with millions of nerve cells and functions independently of the central nervous system, which has led to our intestines being called the second brain.

The Relationship Between the Gut and the Brain Axis

The intestinal brain axis is a functional bidirectional system with strong bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (CNS), the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the intestine. The Enteric nervous system consists of 500 million neurons in the intestine, which is approximately 9 meters long and extends from the alimentary canal to the anus. The transmission pathway between the brain and the intestine is provided by signals sent to the brain by the vagus nerve.

Dopamine, one of the body's happiness hormones, is secreted from the hypothalamus region of the brain, while 90 percent of serotonin is secreted from the digestive system. Based on this, it is possible to say that human happiness is parallel to the transmission between the brain and the intestine. Research shows that disruption of the gut-brain axis is associated with metabolic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. So what is irritable bowel syndrome?

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Restless bowel syndrome is a functional digestive disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal system. It affects not only the large intestine but the entire digestive system. It causes stomach cramps and severe pain as it sensitizes muscles and nerves.

Although the exact cause is not yet known, environmental factors such as intensive antibiotic use, irregular diet, harmful habits and stress trigger the development of the condition. For this reason, it is not called a disease, but a functional disorder. It usually appears at a young age and lasts for many years. Today, approximately 15% of people who consult a doctor for abdominal pain and constipation are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. The incidence in women is much higher than in men. So how is the transmission between the gut microbiota and the brain?

Gut Microbiota and Brain Conduction

The colonized functioning of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa in certain parts of the gastrointestinal tract is called the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is one of the largest components of our body as it harbors 40,000 thousand species of bacteria and more than 100 trillion microorganisms. This ecosystem contains ten times more cells than the total number of cells in the human body. Nearly 70% of the microorganisms with a large surface area in the digestive tract are found in the small and large intestine. Microbiome development is influenced by dietary habits, probiotic and antibiotic use, as well as many environmental factors.

The microbiota is critical for maintaining brain function as well as the digestive system. After the brain, the digestive system has the largest neurotransmitter chemical network. This is why today the gut is considered the second brain.

What is a Neurotransmitter Substance?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that enable communication between millions of neurons. There are millions of neurons (nerve cells) in every region of the brain. Neurons are microscopic cells that control body functions and transfer information. Neurotransmitters provide communication between neurons to maintain the function of vital activities such as breathing, weight control, heartbeat and many more.

To get information about the relationship between gut, brain and nutrition, you can read Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: ''The intestines work like a serotonin factory for the brain.''You can browse our content.