Key Terms
- Crohn’s disease
- a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause ulcerations and fistulas in the intestines, particularly the colon and ileum
- diverticulitis
- inflammation of diverticula, which are bulging pouches that can form along the intestines
- dysbiosis
- imbalance of gut microbiota associated with an unhealthy outcome
- galactosemia
- a genetic disorder in which the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) enzyme is missing or does not function properly
- hyperemesis gravidarum
- persistent and severe vomiting caused by pregnancy; can lead to weight loss and dehydration
- malabsorption
- a digestive disorder that causes the body not to absorb nutrients from food effectively
- microbiome
- a collection of microorganisms that reside in the body, primarily in the gastrointestinal tract
- necrotizing enterocolitis
- a gastrointestinal tract disease in which the intestinal lining becomes inflamed, dies, and is sloughed off
- prebiotic
- nondigestible substances that stimulate growth of “good” gut bacteria
- probiotic
- foods that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain “good” gut bacteria
- short bowel syndrome
- a group of problems related to ineffective absorption of nutrients
- ulcerative colitis (UC)
- an inflammatory disease that affects the superficial lining of the large intestine, causing ulcerations