Methanobrevibacter smithii: Gut Methane Explained

Methanobrevibacter smithii are the most common methane-producing archaea in the human gut. Like bacteria, archaea are simple, single-celled creatures. They are known for living in extreme environments with extremely hot or freezing temperatures or with extreme acidity [1]. When gut bacteria digest fibers to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), they release hydrogen. M. smithii and other microbes combine this hydrogen with carbon dioxide to produce methane. The reduction in hydrogen levels further promotes fiber digestion and SCFA production. Methane also may stimulate the release of GLP-1, a hormone that helps control glucose levels [2]. Although some studies have associated high levels of methane production with bloating, constipation, and IBS, this has not been a consistent finding [3], [4], [5], [6].

While it is not necessarily harmful in the right amounts, we have included M. smithii among the disruptive microbes because high levels may cause bloating and discomfort. (Adapted from Tiny Health)