Intestinal Microbiome: Functional Aspects in Health and Disease: 88th Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop, Playa del Carmen, September 2016 (Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop Series, Vol. 88) (PDF)

During the first thousand days of life, the intestinal microbiome holds great significance. The fetal development can be largely affected by exposure to microbes in utero, in part through epigenetic processes and hormonal influences, which also trigger changes in the mother’s intestinal microbiome. Delivery methods, perinatal antibiotic treatment, and diet during the postpartum period can impact the initial microbial colonization which can influence the expression of multiple health conditions such as hypersensitivity, autoimmune disease, and brain function during later stages of life. The human microbiome’s development and its significance in disease prevention are explained in detail in the first part of this publication, while the second section examines the normal development of gut microbiota and their clinical conditions of dysbiosis. Finally, the last chapters cover various aspects of human milk evolution and oligosaccharides.