cover of episode The Elixir of Life

The Elixir of Life

2025/6/6
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Avir Mitra
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Lulu
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Avir Mitra: 母乳不仅仅是水、脂肪、糖和蛋白质的混合物,还含有一种叫做人乳寡糖(HMO)的成分,它是母乳中第三大固体成分,含量甚至高于蛋白质。这些HMO是结构复杂的糖类,只存在于人类母乳中,因此我称它们为“外星糖”。最令人惊讶的是,婴儿自身无法消化这些糖类。这引发了一个问题:为什么母亲会耗费珍贵的能量来制造婴儿无法利用的物质? Lulu: 了解到母乳中存在着婴儿无法消化的“外星糖”成分,这确实令人惊讶。我一直认为母乳的主要作用是为婴儿提供营养,但现在看来,这些HMO可能还有其他重要的功能。接下来,我很好奇这些HMO究竟有什么作用,以及科学家们是如何发现这一点的。

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Doctor and special correspondent, Avir Mitra takes Lulu on an epic journey live on stage at a little basement club called Caveat, here in New York. Starting with an ingredient in breastmilk that babies can’t digest, a global hunt that takes us from Bangladesh to the Mennonite communities here in the US, we discover an ancient symbiotic relationship that might be on the verge of disappearing.  So sip a vicarious cocktail, settle in, and explore the surprising ways our bodies forge deep, invisible connections that shape our lives.

This live show is part of a series we are doing with Avir that we are calling “Viscera.” Each event is conversation that takes the audience on journey into a quirk or question or mystery inside of us, and gives them a visceral experience with the viscera of us. The previous installment of the series, was called “How to Save a Life).”

Special thanks to Tim Brown, David Mills, Carlito Lebrilla, Bethany Henrik, Danielle Lemay, Katie Hinde, Jennifer Smilowitz, Angela Zivkovic, Daniela Barile, Mark Underwood

**EPISODE CREDITS:**Reported by -Avir Mitrawith help from - Anisa VietzeOriginal music from - Dylan KeefeSound design contributed by - Dylan Keefe, Ivan BarenFact-checking by -Natalie Middleton.

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