November 02, 2025

EP410: Gut Microbiome with Prof Talley Part 1

19 minutes

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Professor Nicholas Talley, a distinguished professor of medicine and gastroenterologist. Professor Talley explains the gut microbiome as the collection of trillions of organisms and their genes residing in our gut, which play a crucial role in maintaining health but can also contribute to disease. These organisms are acquired at birth and influenced by factors like diet, exercise, and medication throughout life. The gut microbiome impacts overall health by releasing chemicals that can affect bodily functions, even reaching the brain to influence appetite.

Professor Talley discusses the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and conditions like obesity, noting that while animal studies show manipulation of the microbiome can lead to weight loss, this is more challenging in humans. He introduces fecal microbial transfer (FMT) as a potential treatment, citing mixed results in conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome but promising early findings in Parkinson's disease. The conversation also touches upon the gut-brain axis, explaining the extensive neural connections between the gut and the brain, and how gut health can influence neurological conditions. Dr. Bishop expresses his intention to record a follow-up episode due to the fascinating nature of the topic.

Takeaways:

The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of organisms and their genes residing in the gut, which play a crucial role in maintaining health but can also contribute to disease.

The microbiome is acquired at birth from the mother and environment, matures in childhood, and can be altered by diet, exercise, and medications.

Gut microbes produce chemicals and metabolites that can be absorbed by the body, influencing various bodily functions and potentially impacting overall health.

Major bacterial groups like Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes have a complex, yin-yang effect on health, interacting with each other and the host.

Obesity is associated with a less diverse gut microbiome, and while animal studies show manipulation can lead to weight loss, human applications are still under development.

The relationship between obesity and the gut microbiome is complex, with changes potentially influencing appetite and food digestion, and it can be a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is being explored as a treatment for various conditions, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Parkinson’s disease, with mixed but promising results.

The location of microbes within the gastrointestinal tract matters; for example, oral bacteria found in the small intestine have been linked to functional dyspepsia.

A gut-brain axis exists, facilitated by neural connections like the vagus nerve, allowing communication between the gut and the brain, influencing neurological conditions.

Research suggests that gut diseases, such as constipation in Parkinson’s patients, might precede and potentially predispose individuals to neurological disorders, indicating a possible therapeutic avenue through microbiome manipulation.

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Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

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By Doctor Warrick Bishop

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