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Scientists create artificial gut | Scientists create artificial gut |
(about 7 hours later) | |
UK scientists have built an artificial stomach to simulate human digestion. | UK scientists have built an artificial stomach to simulate human digestion. |
The Institute of Food Research hopes it will aid the development of new superfoods by revealing how they are broken down in the gut. | The Institute of Food Research hopes it will aid the development of new superfoods by revealing how they are broken down in the gut. |
The device, made from sophisticated plastics and metals, can withstand the corrosive gut acids and enzymes, and can be fed real food. | The device, made from sophisticated plastics and metals, can withstand the corrosive gut acids and enzymes, and can be fed real food. |
It mimics both the physical and chemical reactions that take place during digestion - and can even vomit. | It mimics both the physical and chemical reactions that take place during digestion - and can even vomit. |
This is an important tool that will allow us to understand what happens in the gut Dr Peter EllisKing's College London | This is an important tool that will allow us to understand what happens in the gut Dr Peter EllisKing's College London |
Chief designer Dr Martin Wickham said his model was much more sophisticated than previous attempts, which tended to focus solely on reproducing the chemistry of digestion. | Chief designer Dr Martin Wickham said his model was much more sophisticated than previous attempts, which tended to focus solely on reproducing the chemistry of digestion. |
It even mimics the stomach contractions which are used to break up food, and send it on its way along the alimentary canal. | It even mimics the stomach contractions which are used to break up food, and send it on its way along the alimentary canal. |
New treatments | New treatments |
Dr Wickham hopes his model will help scientists understand more about how food gets processed in the gut, and which nutrients get absorbed. | Dr Wickham hopes his model will help scientists understand more about how food gets processed in the gut, and which nutrients get absorbed. |
Armed with this knowledge, they may be able to develop healthier foods designed to manipulate the digestive process. | Armed with this knowledge, they may be able to develop healthier foods designed to manipulate the digestive process. |
For instance, knowing how quickly glucose gets absorbed into the bloodstream would potentially help treat diabetes. | For instance, knowing how quickly glucose gets absorbed into the bloodstream would potentially help treat diabetes. |
Dr Wickham said: "Our knowledge of what actually happens in the gut is still very rudimentary, but we hope that this model can help fill in some of the blanks." | Dr Wickham said: "Our knowledge of what actually happens in the gut is still very rudimentary, but we hope that this model can help fill in some of the blanks." |
Dr Peter Ellis, a biochemistry expert at King's College London, said: "This is an important tool that will allow us to understand what happens in the gut, which has essentially been like a black box until recently. | |
"This model is important because it gets the science of digestion right." | "This model is important because it gets the science of digestion right." |
Dr Stephen Bloom, head of metabolic medicine at Imperial College in London, agreed the model could be useful - but warned that it might have limitations. | Dr Stephen Bloom, head of metabolic medicine at Imperial College in London, agreed the model could be useful - but warned that it might have limitations. |
He said: "The stomach is an extraordinarily complex organ, so you cannot create a model that will undertake all of these functions." | He said: "The stomach is an extraordinarily complex organ, so you cannot create a model that will undertake all of these functions." |
Two-stage model | Two-stage model |
The top half of the model consists of a vessel in which food, stomach acids and digestive enzymes are mixed. | The top half of the model consists of a vessel in which food, stomach acids and digestive enzymes are mixed. |
Once this hydration process is finished, the food gets broken down into smaller pieces that can be absorbed by the human body. | |
Computer software is used to control how long food remains in a particular part of the stomach, and the release of the gut secretions. | Computer software is used to control how long food remains in a particular part of the stomach, and the release of the gut secretions. |
It has the capacity of about half the size of an actual stomach, and can "eat" the equivalent of a normal portion of fish and chips. | It has the capacity of about half the size of an actual stomach, and can "eat" the equivalent of a normal portion of fish and chips. |
The artificial gut is already attracting commercial attention, with one company wanting to test how a new food product can release a specific nutrient into the intestine. | The artificial gut is already attracting commercial attention, with one company wanting to test how a new food product can release a specific nutrient into the intestine. |
Another group wants to determine if soil contaminants, which could potentially be swallowed by children playing outside, get absorbed by the human body. | Another group wants to determine if soil contaminants, which could potentially be swallowed by children playing outside, get absorbed by the human body. |
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