Food Nutrition and Health Team, Food and Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
J Nutr. 2012 Nov;142(11):1921-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.166231. Epub 2012 Sep 18.
The gastrointestinal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining host health by preventing the colonization of pathogens, fermenting dietary compounds, and maintaining normal mucosal immunity. Particularly in early life, the composition of the microbiota profoundly influences the development and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) mucosa, which may affect health in later life. Therefore, strategies to manipulate the microbiota during infancy may prevent the development of some diseases later in adult life. Earlier research suggested that term fetuses are sterile and that the initial bacterial colonization of the newborn GIT occurs only after the baby transits through the birth canal. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the colonization and/or contact of the fetus with the maternal GIT microbiota may start in utero. After vaginal birth, the colonization of the neonate GIT continues through contact with maternal feces and vaginal bacteria, leading to a relatively simple microbial community that is influenced by feeding type (breast vs. formula feeding). Maternal GIT microbiota, vaginal microbiota, and breast milk composition are influenced by maternal diet. Alterations of the maternal GIT microbiota composition via supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics have been shown; however, transfer of these benefits to the offspring remains to be demonstrated. This review focuses on the influence of maternal GIT microbiota during the pre- and postpartum periods on the colonization of the infant GIT. In particular, it examines the manipulation of the maternal GIT microbiota composition through the use of probiotics and/or prebiotics and subsequent consequences for the health of the offspring.
胃肠道微生物群通过防止病原体定植、发酵膳食化合物和维持正常黏膜免疫，在维持宿主健康方面发挥着重要作用。特别是在生命早期，微生物群的组成会深刻影响胃肠道（GIT）黏膜的发育和成熟，这可能会影响以后的健康。因此，在婴儿期操纵微生物群的策略可能可以预防某些成年后疾病的发生。早期研究表明，足月胎儿是无菌的，新生儿 GIT 的最初细菌定植仅在婴儿通过产道后才发生。然而，最近的研究表明，胎儿与母体 GIT 微生物群的定植和/或接触可能在子宫内开始。经阴道分娩后，新生儿 GIT 的定植通过与母体粪便和阴道细菌接触继续进行，导致微生物群落相对简单，受喂养类型（母乳喂养与配方奶喂养）影响。母体 GIT 微生物群、阴道微生物群和母乳成分受母体饮食影响。已经证明可以通过补充益生菌和益生元来改变母体 GIT 微生物群组成；然而，这些益处是否能传递给后代仍有待证明。本综述重点介绍了产前和产后母体 GIT 微生物群对婴儿 GIT 定植的影响。特别是，它研究了通过使用益生菌和/或益生元来操纵母体 GIT 微生物群组成，以及随后对后代健康的影响。
