DNA samples from 50,000-year-old Neanderthal feces reveal the extinct species’ gut microbiota contained beneficial microorganisms that are found in modern humans’ intestines.
The findings, made by the University of Bologna, suggest that microbiota in humans’ guts predates the split between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens that occurred more than 700,000 years ago.
Researchers identified dozens of bacteria found in the gut of both species, which suggests these played a major role in the advancement of humans for tens of thousands of years – and maybe even longer.
However, the team notes that western urban populations are depleting these beneficial gut microbiota, or ‘old friends,’ due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles.
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DNA samples from 50,000-year-old Neanderthal feces reveal the extinct species’ gut microbiota contained beneficial microorganisms that are found in modern humans’ intestines. The findings suggest that microbiota in humans’ guts predates the split between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens that occurred more than 700,000 years ago
Marco Candela, the professor of the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology of the University of Bologna, said: ‘These results allow us to understand which components of the human gut microbiota are essential for our health, as they are integral elements of our biology also from an evolutionary point of view.’
‘Nowadays there is a progressive reduction of our microbiota diversity due to the context of our modern life: this research group’s findings could guide us in devising diet- and lifestyle-tailored solutions to counteract this phenomenon.’
The ancient fecal sediments were uncovered at the El Salt site in Space where many Neanderthals once lived before dying out some 40,000 years ago.
And the samples are the oldest fecal material discovered to date.
Researchers identified dozens of bacteria found in the gut of both species, which suggests these played a major role in the advancement of humans for tens of thousands of years – and maybe even longer
Through the DNA analysis, the team identified ancestral components of the human gut microbiota include many well-known bacteria
Through the DNA analysis, the team identified ancestral components of the human gut microbiota include many well-known bacteria.
This includes Blautia, which decreases obesity, Faecalibacterium that helps break down dietary fiber and Bifidobacterium, which regulates out immune defenses.
However, recent studies have shown that western diets of processed food and lifestyles of drug use and living in urban environments are depleting our ‘old friends.’
Simone Rampelli, who is a researcher at the University of Bologna, said: ‘The process of depletion of the gut microbiota in modern western urban populations could represent a significant wake-up call.’
This depletion process would become particularly alarming if it involved the loss of those microbiota components that are crucial to our physiology.
Researchers give an example that in the West, ‘we are witnessing a dramatic increase in cases of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer.’
The ancient fecal sediments were uncovered at the El Salt site in Space where many Neanderthals once lived before dying out some 40,000 years ago. And the samples are the oldest fecal material discovered to date.
‘In the current modernization scenario, in which there is a progressive reduction of microbiota diversity, this information could guide integrated diet- and lifestyle-tailored strategies to safeguard the micro-organisms that are fundamental to our health’, concludes Candela.
‘To this end, promoting lifestyles that are sustainable for our gut microbiota is of the utmost importance, as it will help maintain the configurations that are compatible with our biology.’