# When your gut bacteria run out of fiber, they may start eating your gut lining

Source: [Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261105083622.htm) · 2026-11-09 · Medicine
Page: https://themorning.science/story/when-your-gut-bacteria-run-out-of-fiber-they-may-start-eating-your-gut-lining-d5c957acb4a52af7
Kind: research · Impact: medium

## In brief

- Scientists report that gut bacteria can feed on the mucus lining of the intestine.
- This activity can produce potentially harmful compounds.
- Fibre helps keep this mucus-feeding activity in check, and some proteins in plant foods shift bacteria toward beneficial products.

## Why it matters

The finding links dietary fibre intake to the balance between beneficial and potentially harmful gut microbial activity, which is relevant to research on gut health.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-09: ScienceDaily reports the study findings on gut bacteria feeding on mucus when fibre is scarce

## Coverage

- [When your gut bacteria run out of fiber, they may start eating your gut lining](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261105083622.htm) — Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily, 2026-11-09

Tags: gut microbiome, fibre, mucus, nutrition, intestinal health

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science