A new study suggests that an often-overlooked gut fungus, Mucor racemosus, may help protect the intestine from radiation damage. In experiments involving mice, researchers found that the fungus reduced intestinal injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and damage to the gut barrier after radiation exposure. The fungus appeared to support DNA repair by producing amino acids that helped damaged intestinal cells recover, while also changing bacterial metabolism to promote protective compounds. M. racemosus-fermented cheese also showed greater protective effects than conventional fermented or nonfermented cheese in mouse experiments. Although the findings are promising, they have not yet been demonstrated in humans. Researchers say further clinical studies are needed to determine whether this fungus could eventually help protect patients undergoing cancer radiotherapy or people exposed to radiation.
Read more at MedicalXpress