WikiBiomeThe human microbiome encyclopediaRanked matches across titles, topics, categories, and article introductions.
An essential trace element that is primarily protective in its biological roles. Unlike most metals in this wiki, selenium's toxicological significance lies more in the consequences of its deficiency than its excess. Selenium is the backbone of the selenoproteome -- a f…
Research summary — not medical advice. This page synthesizes published research on a mechanism-level intervention. It is not a clinical recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to diet, supplementation, or treatment.
Selenium supplementation at 200mcg/day reduces TPO antibody titers in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, validated across multiple RCTs. Selenium is the essential cofactor for glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and deiodinase enzymes critical to thyroid function and defense.
A non-essential metal and the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust. Unlike manganese, iron, or selenium, aluminum has no known biological function in humans. Its significance in metal toxicology stems from two major concerns: proven neurotoxicity at eleva…
The most common form of dementia, affecting an estimated 55 million people worldwide and projected to triple by 2050 zhang 2024 recent advances alzheimers mechanisms trials. Characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, amyloid-beta plaques, and neurofibr…
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) -- encompassing atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke -- is the leading cause of death globally. The gut-heart axis has emerged as a central paradigm linking microbial metabo…
Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition triggered by dietary gluten (gliadin proteins from wheat, barley, and rye) in genetically susceptible individuals (HLA-DQ2/DQ8, carried by ~30-40% of Europeans but penetrant in only ~1% of carriers). Gluten exposure cause…
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death. Over 90% of cases are sporadic, driven by a complex interplay between genetic predisposition, dietary habits, gut microbiome composition, and environmental ex…
Coronary artery disease (CAD) -- the progressive narrowing of coronary arteries by atherosclerotic plaque -- is the single leading cause of death globally, responsible for approximately 9 million deaths annually. CAD encompasses stable angina, unstable angina, and myoca…
The pathological disruption of normal metal homeostasis — the tightly regulated balance of essential trace elements (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, cobalt) and the effective exclusion of toxic metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic). Dyshomeostasis is a conve…
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome affecting 2-4% of the global population Heidari et al. 2017, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction ("fibro fog"), and sleep disturbances. Conventionally attributed to central sensiti…
Alphabetical definitions of specialist terms used throughout this wiki. Where a full concept page exists, the term links to it. --- AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) -- A ligand-activated transcription factor that senses microbial metabolites (especially indoles from tryp…
Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder characterized by TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) that stimulate the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism kahaly 2022 graves disease targeted therapy review. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, with conc…
The gut-thyroid axis describes the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the thyroid gland. The thyroid regulates metabolism, energy homeostasis, and immune function -- and the microbiome influences thyroid physiology at every level: mineral absorpt…
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune disease globally and the leading cause of hypothyroidism. Chronic lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland progressively destroys follicular architecture, reducing thyroid hormone output. Prevalence is 5-10…
Hyperaccumulator plants are species that concentrate heavy metals in their tissues at 10–100× the levels found in non-accumulating species growing in the same soil. Over 700 plant species are known hyperaccumulators — primarily for nickel (~530 species), but also zinc, …
An umbrella term for chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, principally crohns disease (CD; transmural, any GI segment) and ulcerative colitis (UC; mucosal, colon only). Approximately 6 million patients worldwide. IBD represen…
An essential halogen required for thyroid hormone synthesis (T3 and T4). The thyroid gland is the primary iodine-concentrating organ, containing 70-80% of total body iodine. Iodine occupies a unique position in the metallomics landscape: it is not a metal, but its inter…
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), affecting an estimated 10-30% of COVID-19 survivors (WHO and CDC post-acute surveillance estimates) with symptoms persisting 12 weeks. Characterized by fatigue, cognitive dysfunction ("brain fog"), exercise intolerance…
This page synthesizes findings across 1,426 source pages to map the relationships between metals and disease. Where individual source pages document a single study's findings, this page identifies the patterns that emerge when those findings are laid side by side. ADVER…
Probiotic supplementation targeting the dysbiosis-thyroid axis aims to restore Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium populations depleted in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, with potential downstream effects on iodine and selenium metabolism.
Warning: Clinical Disclaimer: This STOP page represents a hypothesis based on mechanistic evidence and should NOT replace clinical judgment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before modifying any treatment plan.
Probiotics protect the gut barrier from heavy metal toxicity. Zhai et al. (2016) demonstrated that L. plantarum CCFM8610 protected intestinal epithelial cells from cadmium through a four-part mechanism: metal sequestration in the gut lumen, alleviation of oxidative stre…
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) -- hashimotos thyroiditis and graves disease -- are the most common organ-specific autoimmune conditions, affecting 5-10% of the global population. The thyroid gland sits at a remarkable intersection of metal biology and immune regula…
A chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation of the colon, extending proximally from the rectum. Unlike crohns disease, UC is limited to the colon, affects only the mucosa/submucosa (not transmural), produces no skip lesions, and…