COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 772
● Modulation of oxidative stress response [145]
● Enhancement of barrier function and mucosal immunity [146]
● Production of antimicrobial compounds that shape
community structure [147]
Their abundance correlates with reduced inflammation in several
chronic conditions [148].
Keystone Interactions and Networks
Beyond individual keystone species, functional interactions
between these organisms create complex networks that:
● Enable metabolic capabilities beyond what individual
species can perform [149]
● Create ecological stability through redundancy and
resilience [150]
● Allow adaptation to changing dietary patterns [151]
● Support appropriate immune development and function
[152]
● Maintain redox balance and pH gradients [153]
● Regulate host metabolic processes [154]
● Prevent pathogen establishment through competitive
exclusion [155]
● Generate bioactive metabolites with systemic effects [156]
These networks represent a higher order of organization that may
be more clinically relevant than individual species in some
contexts [157].
Geographic and Dietary Variations in Keystone Distribution
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