Zeinali LI, Giuliano S, Lakshminrusimha S, Underwood MA. Intestinal Dysbiosis in the Infant and the Future of Lacto-Engineering to Shape the Developing Intestinal Microbiome.
Clin Ther 2021;
44:193-214.e1. [PMID:
34922744 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.11.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
The goal of this study was to review the role of human milk in shaping the infant intestinal microbiota and the potential of human milk bioactive molecules to reverse trends of increasing intestinal dysbiosis and dysbiosis-associated diseases.
METHODS
This narrative review was based on recent and historic literature.
FINDINGS
Human milk immunoglobulins, oligosaccharides, lactoferrin, lysozyme, milk fat globule membranes, and bile salt-stimulating lipase are complex multifunctional bioactive molecules that, among other important functions, shape the composition of the infant intestinal microbiota.
IMPLICATIONS
The co-evolution of human milk components and human milk-consuming commensal anaerobes many thousands of years ago resulted in a stable low-diversity infant microbiota. Over the past century, the introduction of antibiotics and modern hygiene practices plus changes in the care of newborns have led to significant alterations in the intestinal microbiota, with associated increases in risk of dysbiosis-associated disease. A better understanding of mechanisms by which human milk shapes the intestinal microbiota of the infant during a vulnerable period of development of the immune system is needed to alter the current trajectory and decrease intestinal dysbiosis and associated diseases.
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