The Potential Role of Microalgal Antioxidant Molecules on the Microbiota-Gut Axis in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Comprising multiple microorganisms, the microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system and maintaining homeostasis. The influence of genetic and environmental factors causes the composition of the microbiota to change throughout life, which is called the plasticity of the microbiota. A eubiotic microbiota promotes the immune response, reducing the risk of inflammation and diseases such as IBD and cancer. The Mediterranean diet is of fundamental importance for a healthy microbiota. On the contrary, Western diets lead to microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation. Microalgae, and, in particular, their derivatives, show promise and relevance in the search for potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biomolecules. This review focuses on the correlation between microbiota, nutrition, immunity and microalgal derivatives, highlighting how these may be a potential innovative therapeutic strategy for the management of chronic inflammatory diseases.