Modulating the early-life gut microbiota using pro-, pre-, and synbiotics to improve gut health, child development, and growth

Kadia, BM; Otiti, MI; Ramsteijn, AS; Sow, D; Faye, B; Heffernan, C; Hall, LJ; Webster, JP; Walker, AW; Allen, S

Abstract

In children exposed to poor hygiene and sanitation, invasion of the gut by pathogenic microbes can result in a subclinical enteropathy termed "environmental enteric dysfunction" (EED) that contributes to undernutrition, growth faltering, and impaired organ development. EED may already be present by age 6-12 weeks; therefore, interventions that can be started early in life, and used alongside breastfeeding, are needed to prevent or ameliorate EED. A healthy gut microbiota is critical for intestinal development and repair, nutrient digestion and absorption, and resisting colonization or overgrowth by pathogens. However, its development can be impaired by several environmental factors. Dietary supplementation with pro-, pre-, or synbiotics may be a pragmatic and safe means of building the resilience of the developing gut microbiota against adverse environmental factors, thereby preventing EED.

Citation

Kadia, B., Otiti, M., Ramsteijn, A., Sow, D., Faye, B., Heffernan, C., …Allen, S. (2023). Modulating the early-life gut microbiota using pro-, pre-, and synbiotics to improve gut health, child development, and growth. Nutrition Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuad050

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Acceptance Date: May 4, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 11, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0029-6643
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuad050
• Keywords: environmental enteric dysfunction; gut microbiota; gut pathogens; probiotics; prebiotics; synbiotics; ENVIRONMENTAL ENTEROPATHY; INFANTS