Backpacker

The Secret to Beating Altitude Sickness Could Be in Your Gut

Around 200 million people travel to high‑altitude regions each year, and up to 75 percent develop acute mountain sickness (AMS). A double‑blind study by UC San Diego researchers found that participants taking probiotics maintained higher oxygen saturation at 12,470 feet compared with a placebo group. The trial, involving 17 volunteers, suggests gut bacteria may enhance the body’s response to low‑oxygen environments. Researchers propose that microbiome‑derived signals could become a preventive tool for hikers, climbers, and workers at altitude.