Page 28 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 28
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 26 Therefore, the development of gut microbiota in infancy is one of the crucial
factors for health maintenance later in life.
Recent studies have linked gut microbiota dysbiosis with different gas-
trointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative coli-
tis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Dieterich et al., 2018),
as well as with metabolic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases
(Arora and Bäckhed, 2016) and cancer (Garrett, 2015). Alterations in microbi-�
ota composition are associated with the onset of autoimmune and allergic dis-
eases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythe-
matosus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and food allergies (McKenzie et al., 2017;
Tanaka and Nakayama, 2017). Gut microbiota dysbiosis may be involved also
in the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism
(Ghaisas et al., 2016; Hughes, Rose and Ashwood, 2018; Kim and Shin, 2018).
Probiotics as challenges for improving the gut health
Modulation of microbiota composition through the use of probiotics during
the perinatal and early postnatal period as well as later in life has been pro-
posed as a possible dietary strategy to reduce risk of disease. Probiotics are a
group of living microorganisms added to food or consumed as dietary supple-
ment for improving intestinal microbiota composition and favorably influenc-
ing health. In general, any disorder in which an aberrant microbiota or an in-
appropriate immune response may play a role are potential targets for probiotic
intervention.
Studies have shown that administration of probiotics to pregnant wom-
en, nursing mothers, or newborns can influence the establishment and compo-
sition of infant gut microbiota, impacting early and later in life (Milani et al.,
2017). Probiotic bacteria have been usually used also to treat and prevent some
gastrointestinal disturbances such as IBD, IBS, or diarrhea, and new evidenc-
es support the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of a number
of diseases including atopic diseases, immune disorders, obesity, and diabetes
(Sanz, 2011; Collado, 2012).
Conclusions
Gut microbiota establishment and further microbiota shifts are very impor-
tant for maintaining host health throughout life. There are different factors, in-
cluding genetics, the mother’s health and diet, delivery mode, breast or formula
feeding and antibiotics that may influence the early development of gut micro-
biota. Alterations in microbial diversity and/or an aberrant microbiota compo-
sition are linked to a number of intestinal and other diseases in infants and al-
so later in adulthood. Supplementation with probiotics has shown promising
results in restoring health and preventing the disease development.
factors for health maintenance later in life.
Recent studies have linked gut microbiota dysbiosis with different gas-
trointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative coli-
tis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Dieterich et al., 2018),
as well as with metabolic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases
(Arora and Bäckhed, 2016) and cancer (Garrett, 2015). Alterations in microbi-�
ota composition are associated with the onset of autoimmune and allergic dis-
eases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythe-
matosus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and food allergies (McKenzie et al., 2017;
Tanaka and Nakayama, 2017). Gut microbiota dysbiosis may be involved also
in the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism
(Ghaisas et al., 2016; Hughes, Rose and Ashwood, 2018; Kim and Shin, 2018).
Probiotics as challenges for improving the gut health
Modulation of microbiota composition through the use of probiotics during
the perinatal and early postnatal period as well as later in life has been pro-
posed as a possible dietary strategy to reduce risk of disease. Probiotics are a
group of living microorganisms added to food or consumed as dietary supple-
ment for improving intestinal microbiota composition and favorably influenc-
ing health. In general, any disorder in which an aberrant microbiota or an in-
appropriate immune response may play a role are potential targets for probiotic
intervention.
Studies have shown that administration of probiotics to pregnant wom-
en, nursing mothers, or newborns can influence the establishment and compo-
sition of infant gut microbiota, impacting early and later in life (Milani et al.,
2017). Probiotic bacteria have been usually used also to treat and prevent some
gastrointestinal disturbances such as IBD, IBS, or diarrhea, and new evidenc-
es support the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of a number
of diseases including atopic diseases, immune disorders, obesity, and diabetes
(Sanz, 2011; Collado, 2012).
Conclusions
Gut microbiota establishment and further microbiota shifts are very impor-
tant for maintaining host health throughout life. There are different factors, in-
cluding genetics, the mother’s health and diet, delivery mode, breast or formula
feeding and antibiotics that may influence the early development of gut micro-
biota. Alterations in microbial diversity and/or an aberrant microbiota compo-
sition are linked to a number of intestinal and other diseases in infants and al-
so later in adulthood. Supplementation with probiotics has shown promising
results in restoring health and preventing the disease development.
