Top in GI: Beer helps gut microbiota diversity; depression risk in IBD

Men who consumed one bottle of nonalcoholic or alcoholic beer every day for 1 month had more diverse gut microbiota than those who did not consume beer, according to a recent study.

The results further showed that consumption of either beer did not significantly increase body weight or body fat mass, nor did it affect serum cardiometabolic markers, including glucose, HbA1c, insulin and cholesterol. It was the top story in gastroenterology last week.

The second top story was on a study that revealed an increased risk for depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their siblings without IBD compared with the general population. Researchers also found that patients with depression and their siblings without depression were at heightened risk for developing IBD.

Read these and more top stories in gastroenterology below:

Beer consumption may boost gut microbiota diversity in men

Drinking one bottle of nonalcoholic or alcoholic beer daily for 4 weeks may lead to more diverse gut microbiota in men, without significantly changing body weight, BMI or cardiometabolic biomarkers, according to new research. Read more.

Siblings of patients with IBD share heightened risk for depression

Patients with IBD were nine times more likely to develop depression, and their unaffected siblings twice as likely to develop depression, according to a study in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Read more.

Cold forceps polypectomy faster, no less effective vs. cold snare for ‘diminutive polyps’

Cold forceps polypectomies were effectively noninferior to cold snare polypectomies for complete resection of nonpedunculated polyps <3 mm, and required less time to perform, noted data published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Read more.

Hispanic patients with IBD at increased risk for hospitalization, surgery

Hispanic patients treated with biologic agents for inflammatory bowel diseases face a greater risk for hospitalization, surgery and infections compared with non-Hispanic patients, according to a study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Read more.

Multidisciplinary care approach benefits endoscopic bariatric therapies

The CDC estimates that nearly half of the adult population in the United States has obesity. Despite its prevalence and potential impact on health, interventions for obesity are difficult to access due to stigma, very few providers specializing in this care and their expense. Read more.