Researchers Develop Pill to Unravel Secrets of Gut's Airy Contents
Gases produced in the intestines can tell if a person has gastrointestinal problems. Researchers in Australia have developed a capsule that can be swallowed to reveal the nature of intestines' airy contents.
According to TIME, the capsule is non-invasive and can be consumed like any other pill. As it travels through the gut, it analyzes selective gases and transmits measurements to a handheld device. The capsule can help in detecting cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and a host of other diseases which can be linked to changes in gaseous environment created by gut microbes.
"We know gut microorganisms produce gases as a by-product of their metabolism, but we understand very little about how that affects our health," said Professor Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh of RMIT University, in a news release.
"Being able to accurately measure intestinal gases could accelerate our knowledge about how specific gut microorganisms contribute to gastrointestinal disorders and food intake efficiency, enabling the development of new diagnostic techniques and treatments," he adds.
The direct gas capsule has been tested on animals with satisfactory results. Human trials are expected to begin soon.
Kalantar-zadeh has also developed a digester that ferments a sample of human excrete for gas production in conditions that simulate the human gut. The composition of gases is studied by a sensor in the device, Daily Mail reports.
