Gut Biome Diversity Might Shape Personality, Energy Levels

A small study of the microbiome hints that an individual’s energy levels might be linked to intestinal microbes.

By Holly Barker
May 9, 2022 9:00 PMMay 9, 2022 9:01 PM
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(Credit: POLIGOONE/Shutterstock)

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It doesn’t take long to recognize these two types: People who seem to have boundless reserves of energy, and those who struggle to roll out of bed each morning, stupefied until their second cup of coffee. The two distinct personalities — lively vs. bone-idle — may stem from differences in the types of bacteria living in our guts, according to a small, exploratory new study published in the journal Nutrients.

The research on 20 subjects suggests that four different personality traits — mental energy, physical energy, mental fatigue and physical fatigue — might be associated with distinct microbial profiles. Bacteria commonly found in energetic people are those which perform metabolic functions, while bacteria associated with inflammation were more likely to be found in people who experience fatigue.

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