From the Scientific Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2021 Feb;42(2):146-150. doi: 10.15537/smj.2021.2.25587.
Microbes are present almost everywhere on this Earth. Humans harbor microbes in various organs, including skin, gut, mouth, and nose. Among these, the gut region has the highest population of microbes. Gut microbiota is directly linked with homeostasis, and a minor change in their numbers predisposes humans to ailments. Notably, the role of the microbial population in the digestive tract directly contributes to body weight. Sometimes, lifestyle changes or antibiotics intake to manage certain infections are associated with disturbance in the gut microflora. Several scientific studies allude to the obesity linkage with disturbed intestinal microflora. This review mainly focuses on how healthy nutrition contributes towards maintaining normal flora inside the human body. Importantly, the contribution of probiotics and prebiotics in maintaining human healthy body weight is discussed.
微生物几乎存在于地球的每一个角落。人类的各个器官都存在微生物,包括皮肤、肠道、口腔和鼻腔。其中,肠道区域的微生物数量最多。肠道微生物群与体内平衡直接相关,其数量的微小变化使人类容易患病。值得注意的是,微生物群在消化道中的作用直接影响体重。有时,为了管理某些感染而改变生活方式或服用抗生素会扰乱肠道微生物群。几项科学研究表明,肥胖与肠道微生物菌群紊乱有关。本综述主要关注健康营养如何有助于维持人体内正常的菌群。重要的是,还讨论了益生菌和益生元在维持人体健康体重方面的作用。