The gut microbiota: A treasure for human health

Biotechnol Adv. 2016 Nov 15;34(7):1210-1224. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.08.003. Epub 2016 Aug 31.

Abstract

The interplay between the host and host-associated gut microbiota is an area of increasing interest during the recent decade. From young infants to elderly people, from primitive tribes to modern societies, accumulating evidence has suggested the association of critical physiological roles of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of a variety of human metabolic, immunological and neurological diseases. Importantly, it appears that the relationship between the gut microbiota and disease is bidirectional, instead of causal or consequential. Personalized nutritional and therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota such as prebiotics, probiotics, drugs and fecal microbiota transplantation may create a new era in the human health.

Keywords: Bacteria; Disease; Gut microbiota; Human health; Prebiotics; Probiotics.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / immunology*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune System Diseases / immunology
  • Immune System Diseases / microbiology*
  • Metabolic Diseases / immunology
  • Metabolic Diseases / microbiology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / microbiology*