scholarly journals What is the Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition? A Changing Ecosystem across Age, Environment, Diet, and Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Rinninella ◽  
Pauline Raoul ◽  
Marco Cintoni ◽  
Francesco Franceschi ◽  
Giacinto Miggiano ◽  
...  

Each individual is provided with a unique gut microbiota profile that plays many specific functions in host nutrient metabolism, maintenance of structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation, and protection against pathogens. Gut microbiota are composed of different bacteria species taxonomically classified by genus, family, order, and phyla. Each human’s gut microbiota are shaped in early life as their composition depends on infant transitions (birth gestational date, type of delivery, methods of milk feeding, weaning period) and external factors such as antibiotic use. These personal and healthy core native microbiota remain relatively stable in adulthood but differ between individuals due to enterotypes, body mass index (BMI) level, exercise frequency, lifestyle, and cultural and dietary habits. Accordingly, there is not a unique optimal gut microbiota composition since it is different for each individual. However, a healthy host–microorganism balance must be respected in order to optimally perform metabolic and immune functions and prevent disease development. This review will provide an overview of the studies that focus on gut microbiota balances in the same individual and between individuals and highlight the close mutualistic relationship between gut microbiota variations and diseases. Indeed, dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated not only with intestinal disorders but also with numerous extra-intestinal diseases such as metabolic and neurological disorders. Understanding the cause or consequence of these gut microbiota balances in health and disease and how to maintain or restore a healthy gut microbiota composition should be useful in developing promising therapeutic interventions.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2402
Author(s):  
Emily A. Losno ◽  
Katharina Sieferle ◽  
Federico J. Armando Perez-Cueto ◽  
Christian Ritz

The human gut microbiota are the microorganisms (generally bacteria and archaea) that live in the digestive tracts of humans. Due to their numerous functions, the gut microbiota can be considered a virtual organ of the body, playing a pivotal role in health maintenance. Dietary habits contribute to gut microbiota composition, and evidence from observational and intervention studies suggest that vegan diets may promote health, potentially through affecting the diverse ecosystem of beneficial bacteria in the gut. A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus to identify studies investigating the microbiota composition in vegans. Vegans are defined as people excluding food products that are derived from animals from their diet. Nine observational studies were identified. The main outcome of the systematic review was an increase in Bacteroidetes on the phylum level and a higher abundance of Prevotella on the genus level. In conclusion, the present systematic literature review highlighted some benefits of a vegan diet but also demonstrated the complexity of evaluating results from gut microbiota research. The available evidence only consisted of cross-sectional studies, therefore suggesting the need for well-designed randomised controlled trials. Furthermore, the quality assessment of the studies included in the review suggested a lack of standardised and validated methods for participant selection as well as for faecal sampling and faecal analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2086
Author(s):  
Yin Liu ◽  
Shujuan Zheng ◽  
Jiale Cui ◽  
Tingting Guo ◽  
Jingtao Zhang ◽  
...  

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a non-specific chronic inflammatory disease with lesions located in the colon and rectum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of exopolysaccharide-1 (EPS-1) isolated by L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 on UC. The anti-inflammatory effects of EPS-1 were studied using dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model. In vivo results showed that EPS-1 administration significantly ameliorated weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity index (DAI) score, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and colon tissue damage. In addition, EPS-1 administration significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, EPS-1 administration significantly up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins and mucin. Furthermore, EPS-1 administration modulated gut microbiota composition caused by DSS and increased the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels. Collectively, our study showed the alleviative effects of EPS- isolated by L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 on DSS-induced UC via alleviating intestinal inflammation, improving mucosal barrier function, and modulating gut microbiota composition.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Maja Šikić Pogačar ◽  
Dušanka Mičetić-Turk

The gut microbiota is a complex community composed of trillions of microbes that adapts to its host over the lifetime. Recently, the advances of the methods of high-throughput sequencing have allowed the identification of microbial species in a stool sample, and mass spectrometry identification of their metabolites, both of which together have enabled much of the relevant research in the field. It has became evident that gut microbiota plays an important role in human health and influences the risk of developing many chronic diseases, including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The diverse ecosystem of the gut includes bacteria, viruses, phages, yeasts, archaea, fungi and protozoa. They are responsible for the production of bioactive metabolites, regulation of immune function, energy homeostasis and protection against pathogens. The mentioned functions are dependent on the diversity and abundance of the microbiota which is the reflection of the dietary habits and genetics of the host among other factors. As such, gut microbiota has significant interindividual variations. Diet and lifestyle changes present important determinants in microbiota shaping. The use of antibiotics, different sanitation measures, consumption of processed food and different diets are also reflected in the shifts of gut microbiota composition. Some of the dramatic dietary alterations can cause changes in gut microbiota composition already within 24 h and some of these changes may be difficult to reverse. Through modulation of gut microbiota composition, diet could offer a potential to manage the risk of developing disease and at the same time improving the quality of life and longevity. In this review we look at the role of diet, and specific dietary components, namely carbohydrates, proteins, fats and polyphenols on gut microbiota composition.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Medina

The gut microbiota has been shown to have an important influence on host health. It has been reported that microbiota composition of each individual is stable across the adult life, but it may varies between individuals. Moreover, human gut microbiota composition differs across geography, according to host genetics, dietary habits, age, ethnic origin, geographic location and lifestyle. Nevertheless, gene composition or functional capacity is highly conserved across individuals, phenomenon known as functional redundancy. Although metatranscriptomics have the potential of study the mature mRNA from a microbiome sample, it is not easy to identify which bacteria is actively transcribing the genes who drives the molecular expression. The use of genome-wide methodologies to study the active mRNA synthesis seem to be useful to identify the bacterias who drives gene expression in microbiota environment.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinninella ◽  
Cintoni ◽  
Raoul ◽  
Lopetuso ◽  
Scaldaferri ◽  
...  

The gut microbiota is a changing ecosystem, containing trillions of bacteria, continuously shaped by many factors, such as dietary habits, seasonality, lifestyle, stress, antibiotics use, or diseases. A healthy host–microorganisms balance must be respected in order to optimally maintain the intestinal barrier and immune system functions and, consequently, prevent disease development. In the past several decades, the adoption of modern dietary habits has become a growing health concern, as it is strongly associated with obesity and related metabolic diseases, promoting inflammation and both structural and behavioral changes in gut microbiota. In this context, novel dietary strategies are emerging to prevent diseases and maintain health. However, the consequences of these different diets on gut microbiota modulation are still largely unknown, and could potentially lead to alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier, and the immune system. The present review aimed to focus on the impact of single food components (macronutrients and micronutrients), salt, food additives, and different dietary habits (i.e., vegan and vegetarian, gluten-free, ketogenic, high sugar, low FODMAP, Western-type, and Mediterranean diets) on gut microbiota composition in order to define the optimal diet for a healthy modulation of gut microbiota.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Medina

The gut microbiota has been shown to have an important influence on host health. It has been reported that microbiota composition of each individual is stable across the adult life, but it may varies between individuals. Moreover, human gut microbiota composition differs across geography, according to host genetics, dietary habits, age, ethnic origin, geographic location and lifestyle. Nevertheless, gene composition or functional capacity is highly conserved across individuals, phenomenon known as functional redundancy. Although metatranscriptomics have the potential of study the mature mRNA from a microbiome sample, it is not easy to identify which bacteria is actively transcribing the genes who drives the molecular expression. The use of genome-wide methodologies to study the active mRNA synthesis seem to be useful to identify the bacterias who drives gene expression in microbiota environment.


Gut ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 2097-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ticinesi ◽  
Christian Milani ◽  
Angela Guerra ◽  
Franca Allegri ◽  
Fulvio Lauretani ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe involvement of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of calcium nephrolithiasis has been hypothesised since the discovery of the oxalate-degrading activity of Oxalobacter formigenes, but never comprehensively studied with metagenomics. The aim of this case–control study was to compare the faecal microbiota composition and functionality between recurrent idiopathic calcium stone formers (SFs) and controls.DesignFaecal samples were collected from 52 SFs and 48 controls (mean age 48±11). The microbiota composition was analysed through 16S rRNA microbial profiling approach. Ten samples (five SFs, five controls) were also analysed with deep shotgun metagenomics sequencing, with focus on oxalate-degrading microbial metabolic pathways. Dietary habits, assessed through a food-frequency questionnaire, and 24-hour urinary excretion of prolithogenic and antilithogenic factors, including calcium and oxalate, were compared between SFs and controls, and considered as covariates in the comparison of microbiota profiles.ResultsSFs exhibited lower faecal microbial diversity than controls (Chao1 index 1460±363vs 1658±297, fully adjusted p=0.02 with stepwise backward regression analysis). At multivariate analyses, three taxa (Faecalibacterium, Enterobacter, Dorea) were significantly less represented in faecal samples of SFs. The Oxalobacter abundance was not different between groups. Faecal samples from SFs exhibited a significantly lower bacterial representation of genes involved in oxalate degradation, with inverse correlation with 24-hour oxalate excretion (r=−0.87, p=0.002). The oxalate-degrading genes were represented in several bacterial species, whose cumulative abundance was inversely correlated with oxaluria (r=−0.85, p=0.02).ConclusionsIdiopathic calcium SFs exhibited altered gut microbiota composition and functionality that could contribute to nephrolithiasis physiopathology.


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