Emerging research is revealing that the trillions of microbes living in our gut may influence more than digestion—they may also affect how scientists interpret important biomarkers of nutritional health. In a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers, including UC Davis faculty member Dr. Ralph Green, found that specific groups of gut microbes are associated with levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA), a biomarker commonly used to assess vitamin B12 status. The findings suggest that the gut microbiome may contribute to MMA levels independently of vitamin B12 itself, opening the door to a more nuanced understanding of nutritional assessment and precision health.
At the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH), researchers are advancing the science needed to translate discoveries like these into real-world impact. Dr. Green’s longstanding leadership in vitamin B12 research helps drive a deeper understanding of how nutrition, metabolism, and the gut microbiome interact. While additional research is needed to confirm these findings across broader populations, this work highlights an exciting opportunity to develop more precise nutritional biomarkers and improve how clinicians, researchers, and the food industry evaluate nutritional status and support better health outcomes.
