Determinants of the healthy gut microbiome: core features, modifying factors and normal functions - PubMed
6 hours ago
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- The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem vital for health and disease prevention.
- Defining a 'normal' gut microbiome is challenging due to variability from host physiology, lifestyle, genetics, and environment.
- Healthy gut microbiomes are typically dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with contributions from Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria.
- Regional differences exist, such as higher Prevotella in fiber-rich Eastern diets and greater Bacteroides in Western diets.
- Anatomical location and health status influence alpha-diversity, requiring contextual interpretation.
- Key functions include fermentation of fibers into short-chain fatty acids, immune regulation, gut-brain axis modulation, and barrier integrity.
- The microbiome acts as a multifunctional organ system integrating host and environmental signals.
- A healthy microbiome is a dynamic equilibrium with functional resilience and adaptability, not a fixed profile.