The gut microbiota has been described many times as a virtual organ because of the billions of roles it plays including the production of bioactive metabolites, regulation of immunity, energy homeostasis and protection against pathogens. These activities depend on the quantity and quality of the microbiota along with its metabolic potential, dictated by a variety of factors including diet and host genetics. Thus the microbiota is malleable and varies between individuals. This makes the gut microbiota a biomarker to predict responsiveness to specific dietary constituents to generate precision diets and interventions for optimal health. This two-part review investigates the influence of diet on the gut microbiota and the consequences for health. The first part will discuss the development of the microbiota from birth and its role in health, the consequences of a poor quality diet and microbial metabolites with impact on health. The role of diet in plasma, the microbiota and the influence of specific components on the composition of the microbiota itself are explored.
Year: 2019
Nationality: Ireland
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