WikiBiomeThe human microbiome encyclopediaRanked matches across titles, topics, categories, and article introductions.
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…
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is an elimination diet that removes foods associated with increased intestinal permeability and autoimmune activation. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it targets the gut-thyroid connection by reducing antigenic triggers that drive molecula…
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…
Hyperparathyroidism is the overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH), a master regulator of calcium homeostasis. While primary hyperparathyroidism (from parathyroid adenoma) is well described, the WikiBiome framework highlights secondary hyperparathyroidism -- the com…
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.
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.
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.
Bile acids are cholesterol-derived amphipathic molecules synthesized in the liver, secreted into the duodenum, and extensively modified by gut bacteria. The host-microbe co-metabolism of bile acids creates a signaling network with profound effects on lipid metabolism, g…
A Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic genus within the Bacteroidetes phylum (family Odoribacteraceae). Despite its relatively recent characterization, Butyricimonas has gained significant attention as a member of the protective butyrate-producing consortium that is consis…
Butyrivibrio is a genus of Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the family Lachnospiraceae (phylum Firmicutes). Originally characterized as a dominant fiber-fermenting genus in the rumen, Butyrivibrio species are also found in the human colon where they con…
Chromium is a transition metal (atomic number 24) whose toxicology is defined by a stark oxidation-state divide. Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), is an IARC Group 1 human carcinogen that causes DNA damage through a unique mechanism of intracellular reduction and ternary add…
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances that interfere with hormone synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination. The classical EDC list -- BPA, phthalates, dioxins, PCBs, pesticides -- is well established. What WikiBiome adds …
Erysipelotrichaceae is a family within the phylum Firmicutes that has drawn increasing attention for its consistent enrichment in metabolic disorders. Members of this family are Gram-positive, obligate anaerobes found throughout the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, whe…
Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent regulated cell death driven by the accumulation of lipid peroxides on cellular membranes pendergrass 2026 microbial metallomics parkinsons ferroptosis, riederer 2021 iron concert master parkinsons. Unlike apoptosis or necrosis, fe…
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 master regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. Hepcidin is a 25-amino-acid peptide hormone produced primarily by hepatocytes that controls iron absorption, recycling, and distribution by binding to and degrading ferroportin (SLC40A1/FPN) -- the only known cellular i…
A genus of Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic bacteria in the family Erysipelotrichaceae (phylum Firmicutes) that is emerging as one of the most consistently protective gut commensals in human disease. Holdemanella is depleted across a striking range of conditions -- inf…
A Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic genus within the Firmicutes phylum (family Oscillospiraceae or Ruminococcaceae depending on classification) that possesses a unique metabolic capability: butyrate production from lysine fermentation rather than from dietary fiber. Thi…
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…
The most abundant transition metal in the human body and arguably the most consequential metal in biology. Iron sits at the center of a paradox that drives pathology across virtually every disease domain: organisms need it for oxygen transport, energy metabolism, DNA sy…
Lachnospira is a genus of Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the lachnospiraceae family (Firmicutes phylum). L. pectinoschiza, the type species, is a specialist pectin fermenter that produces short chain fatty acids from plant-derived polysaccharides. The…
Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most widely used probiotic species, with clinical trial evidence spanning multiple conditions. It is a component of many multi-strain probiotic formulations and has been tested in RCTs for schizophrenia, breast cancer chemotherapy…
Lactobacillus plantarum is one of the most versatile probiotic species — found in fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, sourdough), the human gut, and the vaginal microbiome. It has the largest genome among Lactobacillus species (~3.3 Mb), encoding extensive stress toler…
Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, lactic acid bacterium best known as the workhorse of the dairy fermentation industry. It holds GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status and has emerged as a versatile platform for probiotic and therapeuti…
Lead is a purely toxic heavy metal with no known biological function. It is the most extensively studied metal in relation to neurodevelopmental harm and is increasingly recognized as a contributor to chronic disease across virtually every organ system, even at levels o…
An essential macromineral required as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, DNA/RNA stability, and neuromuscular function. Magnesium is not a heavy metal or trace element but is frequently measured along…
Manganese is an essential trace element with a narrow therapeutic window: required as a cofactor for critical enzymes including Mn-SOD (SOD2), pyruvate carboxylase, arginase, and ribonucleotide reductase, yet profoundly neurotoxic at elevated levels martin 2022 manganes…
Megamonas is a genus of obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative bacteria in the family Veillonellaceae (class Negativicutes, phylum Firmicutes). The type species is Megamonas hypermegale, with M. funiformis also well-characterized. It is a common member of the human gut micro…
Mercury is the most toxic heavy metal with no known biological function. Its organic form -- methylmercury (MeHg) -- is the primary concern for dietary exposure via fish consumption. Mercury's toxicity centers on thiol group binding, glutathione depletion, and blood-bra…
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…
Mis-metallation is the displacement of the correct metal cofactor from an enzyme or protein by a wrong metal ion, leading to loss of function, gain of aberrant function, or structural disruption. This is one of the most fundamental and pervasive mechanisms of metal toxi…
A transition metal occupying a central position in this wiki's evidence base. Nickel is toxic and carcinogenic to humans, yet an essential cofactor for pathogen virulence enzymes. It is the most frequent contact allergen worldwide and drives a wide spectrum of systemic …
Parasutterella excrementihominis is a Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic bacterium within the Betaproteobacteria class that has gained attention as an emerging biomarker across metabolic, inflammatory, and endocrine conditions. Despite its relatively recent characterizat…
Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. In the context of this wiki, probiotics are relevant both as therapeutic agents for metal-related diseases and as mediators of gut metal microbiome interactions. Their …
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.
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. Evidence quality ratings reflect the str…
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. Evidence quality ratings reflect the str…
A synbiotic is a combination of a probiotic (live beneficial microorganism) and a prebiotic (substrate that selectively feeds beneficial microbes), designed to work synergistically — the prebiotic supports the survival and colonization of the probiotic organism. Synbiot…
Iron deficiency is common and clinically significant across multiple conditions: postpartum anemia increases PPD risk 1.89-fold (RR = 1.887), low ferritin (<1 ug) increases PPD risk 3.98-fold azami 2019 anemia ppd meta analysis, iron deficiency impairs thyroid peroxidas…
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…
A Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic genus within the class Erysipelotrichia (phylum Firmicutes) that has become one of the most frequently identified taxa in gut-brain and gut-immune Mendelian randomization studies. Turicibacter sanguinis, the type species, possess…
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans leads to lifelong insulin dependence. T1D is fundamentally distinct from type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by insul…
A family of Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the Firmicutes phylum (class Negativicutes) that occupies a unique metabolic niche as specialized lactate utilizers. Veillonellaceae cannot ferment sugars directly -- instead, they cross-feed on lactate produ…
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential cobalt-containing cofactor required for homocysteine metabolism, methylation reactions, and neurological function. Its core corrin ring chelates a cobalt ion, placing B12 at the intersection of metallomics and microbial ecology. C…
Zinc is the most widely utilized transition metal cofactor in biology. Approximately 9-10% of the eukaryotic proteome and 5-6% of the bacterial proteome consists of zinc-binding proteins capdevila 2024 bacterial metallostasis sensing trafficking. An estimated one-third …