Lactic Acid Bacteria
Gabriel Vinderola, Arthur C. Ouwehand, Seppo Salminen, Atte von Wright
Abstract
In recent years, there has been increasing scientific evidence linking microbiota and human health, leading to a growing interest in understanding the establishment and factors contributing to microbiota variation from early childhood to old age. Scientific evidence demonstrates the relevance of early microbial assembly in promoting health, as alterations and disbalances in this process have been associated with a higher risk of developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and allergic diseases. Early microbial colonization begins at birth, continues during lactation, and evolves in complexity and diversity during childhood into a stable adult microbiota that changes with age and in the elderly. The human microbiota is shaped by a number of factors, including diet, lifestyle, antibiotic use, and the environment, among others. In this chapter, we aim to provide a global overview of the current knowledge of the human microbiota across the lifespan and the factors that contribute to microbiota modulation.