The gut as the pacemaker of health
The “KL Alumni Club Kamingespräch” focused on the microbiome and its role in physical and mental health. Following the event, the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences sealed its partnership with MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort with the grand opening of the new MAYRLIFE HALL.
Kamingespräch Mikrobiom
On Monday, 26 May 2025, the KL Alumni Club held a Kamingespräch on the topic of ‘The microbiome: a game changer for physical and mental health’. Rector Rudolf Mallinger, President of the KL Alumni Club, discussed with Victor F. Zevallos, Head of the KL Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Dieter Resch, Managing Director of KL's cooperation partner MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort Altaussee, the influence of nutrition, environment and lifestyle on the composition of the microbiome – and why personalised approaches could be crucial in the healthcare of the future.
Opening of the MAYRLIFE HALL
Following the event, the MAYRLIFE HALL (formerly the Festsaal) was officially opened in a small ceremony. With this naming sponsorship, Karl Landsteiner University and MAYRLIFE are sending a clear signal of their cooperation: Together with KL Krems, MAYRLIFE aims to advance basic research in the field of nutritional science in general and microbiome research in particular.
The aim of the partnership is to explore the potential for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the prevention and treatment of diseases based on an evidence-based, scientifically sound examination of this young field of research. With nutrition scientist Victor F. Zevallos, KL Krems has gained an internationally renowned expert for the endowed professorship in nutritional science funded by MAYRLIFE, with a special focus on microbiome research. Since the beginning of October 2024, the researcher has been working to establish his division and his research work in the field of the immunological effects of nutrition, particularly in relation to coeliac disease, wheat sensitivity and intestinal inflammation.
Personalisation of nutritional recommendations
During the Kamingespräch, Rector Mallinger questioned, among other things, the current state of science regarding the microbiome and the influence of nutrition on the intestinal flora. Victor F. Zevallos emphasised the great individual variance in reactions to food: what is healthy for one person may have little effect on another or even be harmful. Therefore, nutrition must always be considered on an individual basis – standardised recommendations are often too general. The expert also discussed the intestine as a key organ for the immune system. Inflammation in the intestine can have a significant impact on the body's own defences and on the functions of other organs. These connections need to be researched intensively in the coming years.
Dieter Resch emphasised the importance of tailored nutrition in practice. At the MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort, calories are not counted; instead, individual profiles are created based on stool samples and intolerance tests, among other things. The aim is to change habits in the long term, not to optimise them in the short term. Inflammation in the intestine, which often occurs silently, can be detected at an early stage through targeted diagnostics.
Both speakers emphasised that the microbiome is influenced not only by diet, but also by other factors such as environmental influences and the level of physical activity. Cultural differences, such as the comparison between raw food diets in South America and Africa and more processed foods in Europe, also influence the microbiological diversity in the body.
With regard to mental health, Zevallos and Resch pointed to the ‘gut-brain axis’. Changes in the microbiome affect not only the body but also mental processes. However, the connections still need to be researched more intensively.
Finally, both interviewees gave recommendations for everyday life:
Dieter Resch:
- Regular eating habits – a maximum of three meals per day.
- Do not skip breakfast – it is better to reduce the size of your evening meal.
- Do not eat raw food after 4 p.m. (e.g. no salad in the evening).
Victor F. Zevallos:
- Conduct more research into microbiome therapies such as stool transplants.
- Conduct scientific studies into the long-term effects of specific diets.
- Understand the microbiome as a complex system.
Conclusion: The microbiome is more than just scientific hype. It is a reflection of our lifestyle – and at the same time a key to the prevention and treatment of numerous physical and mental illnesses.
