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A Method to Assess Bacteriocin Effects on the Gut Microbiota of Mice
Published on: July 25, 2017
The Gut Microbiota in the First Decade of Life
Muriel Derrien1, Anne-Sophie Alvarez1, Willem M de Vos2
1Danone Nutricia Research, RD, 128 Avenue de la Vauve, 91120 Palaiseau, France.
Insights
The gut microbiome
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- The gut microbiome's importance is increasingly recognized for health.
- Microbiota composition is well-studied in infants and adults, but less so in children aged 3-12 years.
- Microbiota development may extend beyond age 3, with potential long-term health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on gut microbiota in children up to 12 years old.
- To focus on microbiota evolution, variation, and response to diet in this age group.
- To inform the development of diet-based strategies for healthy microbiota development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on the gut microbiome in children.
- Analysis of microbiota composition and function during the first decade of life.
- Examination of dietary influences on the developing gut microbiota.
Main Results:
- Gut microbiota development in children (3-12 years) is less understood than in infants or adults.
- Microbiota maturation may continue beyond early childhood.
- Diet plays a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiota during this developmental window.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to fully understand the gut microbiome in pre-school and school-aged children.
- Early life diet interventions can promote healthy gut microbiota development.
- Targeting the gut microbiome in children may offer preventive health benefits.
Abstract:
Appreciation of the importance of the gut microbiome is growing, and it is becoming increasingly relevant to identify preventive or therapeutic solutions targeting it. The composition and function of the gut microbiota are relatively well described for infants (less than 3 years) and adults, but have been largely overlooked in pre-school (3-6 years) and primary school-age (6-12 years) children, as well as teenagers (12-18 years). Early reports suggested that the infant microbiota would attain an adult-like structure at the age of 3 years, but recent studies have suggested that microbiota development may take longer. This development time is of key importance because there is evidence to suggest that deviations in this development may have consequences in later life. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge concerning the gut microbiota, its evolution, variation, and response to dietary challenges during the first decade of life with a focus on healthy pre-school and primary school-age children (up to 12 years) from various populations around the globe. This knowledge should facilitate the identification of diet-based approaches targeting individuals of this age group, to promote the development of a healthy microbiota in later life.
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