Coursera Plus Annual is 40% Off — Ends July 6.

Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Open University

The gut microbiome: balancing the body

The Open University via OpenLearn

Go to class Write review
Coursera Ad

Learn AI, Data Science & Business — Earn Certificates That Get You Hired

Learn More → Simplilearn Ad

Lead AI-Native Products with Microsoft's Agentic AI Program

Learn More →

Overview

AI, Data Science & Cloud Certificates from Google, IBM & Meta — 40% Off
One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera. 40% off Coursera Plus Annual.
Unlock All Certificates
This free course introduces the composition and functions of the human gut microbiome and explores how the gut microbiome interacts with different parts of the body. It explores how the gut microbiome can be altered by factors related to the human host (such as genetics, age, and the menopause) and through lifestyle factors (such as diet, exercise and medications). You will learn how altered composition of the gut microbiome, called dysbiosis, is associated with various health conditions, and consider strategies for improving the health of the gut microbiome to restore balance.This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course SK190 Human biology: a body in balance.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • 1 What are microbiomes?
  • 1.1 Overview of the gut microbiome
  • 1.2 Balancing the gut microbiome
  • 1.3 Loss of balance – dysbiosis
  • 2 Functions of the gut microbiome
  • 2.1 Metabolic – digestion of food
  • 2.2 Metabolic – production of nutrients
  • 2.3 Metabolism of drugs and xenobiotic chemicals
  • 2.4 Structural integrity of the gut wall
  • 2.5 Protection against pathogens
  • 2.6 Communication within the body
  • 2.6.1 Neural pathway – the microbiota-gut-brain axis
  • 2.6.2 Gut microbiome and hormone signalling
  • 2.7 Gut microbiome and the immune response
  • 2.8 Gut microbiome and stress
  • 3 Factors affecting the gut microbiome
  • 3.1 Genetics of the human host
  • 3.2 Early exposure to microorganisms
  • 3.3 Geographical location and microbiome diversity
  • 3.4 The impact of diet
  • 3.5 Exercise
  • 3.6 Medications
  • 3.7 Infection and disease
  • 3.8 Age and the menopause
  • 4 Impact of dysbiosis on health
  • 4.1 Inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
  • 4.2 Irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
  • 4.3 Obesity and Type 2 diabetes
  • 4.4 Colorectal cancer
  • 4.5 Kidney disease
  • 4.6 Mental health
  • 5 Restoring/maintaining the balance of the gut microbiome
  • 5.1 Prebiotics and probiotics
  • 5.2 Faecal transplant
  • 6 Quiz
  • 7 Summary
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Glossary

Tags

Reviews

4.7 rating at OpenLearn based on 13 ratings

Start your review of The gut microbiome: balancing the body

Go to class

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Sign up for free
Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.