title: Intestinal microbiota during early life - impact on health and disease.
abstract: In the first years after birth, the intestinal microbiota develops rapidly both in diversity and complexity while being relatively stable in healthy adults. Different life-style-related factors as well as medical practices have an influence on the early-life intestinal colonisation. We address the impact of some of these factors on the consecutive microbiota development and later health. An overview is presented of the microbial colonisation steps and the role of the host in that process. Moreover, new early biomarkers are discussed with examples that include the association of microbiota and atopic diseases, the correlation of colic and early development and the impact of the use of antibiotics in early life. Our understanding of the development and function of the intestinal microbiota is constantly improving but the long-term influence of early-life microbiota on later life health deserves careful clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Functional Foods Forum,University of Turku,Turku,Finland.
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nylund
authors.affiliation: Functional Foods Forum,University of Turku,Turku,Finland.
authors.forename: Reetta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Satokari
authors.affiliation: Functional Foods Forum,University of Turku,Turku,Finland.
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Division of Microbiology and Epidemiology,University of Helsinki,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Willem M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: de Vos
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003085:Colic / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D019936:Probiotics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents