Intestinal Microbiology in Early Life

Rocio MARTIN

Danano Nutricia Research, Singapore

The intestinal microbiota forms an integral part of normal human physiology, and in recent years disturbances of the normal gut microbiology have been linked to some important health and disease issues. Newborns are essentially sterile, but the complex, high density microbiota establishes from the very first minutes of life. The first colonizers play an important role in the development of the microbial ecosystem which may indeed steer the long-term composition and activity of the microbiota, and therefor also directly the symbiosis with the host that is so important for health. Considering the importance of the microbiota on the human immune, metabolic, and even neurological systems, it is important to understand the dynamics and driving determinants of this development.

Exclusive human milk feeding is considered the first choice of infant nutrition, not only providing optimal nutrition, but also bioactive components that are crucial for optimal gut development, immune maturation, metabolic development, and even cognitive development. Human milk also has an important impact on the microbiology of the gut as there are many components in human milk that have growth stimulating or growth inhibiting effects on the different types of micro-organisms that an infant can be exposed to. Besides the diet also host genetics, mode of delivery, the use of antibiotics and other variables can impact the early microbiota. Some of these microbiome drivers will be discussed, as will be the potential consequences for health in early and later life.