title: Food, immunity, and the microbiome.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that ingested diet-borne components are involved in the pathogenesis of disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. Nutrients can have short- and long-term effects in shaping the composition of the microbiota. Western diets (enriched in fat, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine) promote inflammation and atherosclerosis through specific fatty acids and degradation products such as trimethylamine N-oxide. Other dietary factors such as carbazoles or tryptophan-enriched proteins have anti-inflammatory properties-partly via activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptors. The microbiota and its metabolic machinery produce a myriad of metabolites that serve as important messengers between the diet, microbiota, and host. Short-chain fatty acids affect immune responses and epithelial integrity via G-protein-coupled receptors and epigenetic mechanisms. By increasing our understanding of interactions between diet, immunity, and the microbiota, we might develop food-based approaches to prevent or treat many diseases. There now is scientific evidence to support the adage "we are what we eat," and this process begins in early life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: herbert.tilg@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tilg
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moschen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D064307:Microbiota; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Anti-Inflammatory; Inflammation; Malnutrition; Metabolome; Western Diet