title: Healthy gut microbiota and long term health.
abstract: This review summarises how the composition of the gastro-intestinal microbiota depends on pre- and postnatal factors, and birth itself. The impact of method of delivery, feeding during infancy and medications, such as antibiotics and anti-acid medication, on the composition of the gastro-intestinal microbiota has clearly been shown. However, the duration of the impact of these factors is not well established. The gastro-intestinal microbiome composition is associated with many auto-immune mediated diseases. Although causality has not been obviously demonstrated, there is a strong tendency in this direction. Nevertheless, results of the manipulation of the gastro-intestinal microbiome composition in these conditions are often disappointing. A better understanding on factors determining the longterm composition of the gastro-intestinal microbiome and its health consequences are a priority research topic. A better understanding of the association between the microbiome and the immune system may have a tremendous impact on general health.
authors.affiliation: UZ Brussel, Department of Paediatrics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vandenplas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System
keywords: colonic microflora/microbiota; gastro-intestinal microflora/microbiota; microbiome; microbiota