The microbiome is properly defined by all the genomes of the microorganisms which are living within the human body and on its surface. However, the term microbiome is also used to identify all the microorganisms themselves. The gut microbiota (which includes the the microorganisms living in the bowel, in the mouth and other parts of the digestive tract), the bacteria of the skin and the bacteria of the respiratory airways are examples of microorganisms belonging to the human microbiome.
Although it has been estimated that everyone of us harbors about 170 different species, it is known that the human microbiome includes more than 1000 species. It is therefore important to know how the microbiome is composed and how its development of influenced.
The gut microbiome
The microorganisms living within the intestinal tract are constituting the human gut microbiome. Among those factors which are consistently influencing the composition of the human microbiome are the type of delivery (cesarean or natural), the use of antibiotics and the hygienic conditions of the living environment. However, the most important factor is nutrition.
Infancy. The gut microbiome in infacy is very unstable and its composition becomes similar to that one of the adult at around 2-3 years of age. The composition of the human microbiome at this stage is mostly influenced by the post-natal nutrition (maternal feeding vs artificial milk) and by the moment of introduction of solid foods in the daily diet.
Adult. The gut microbiome of the adult is more stable in its composition, although it can rapidly change according to variations in diets, antibiotic therapy or bowel infections. Such changes can be complete even within 24-48 hours, although the microbiome can be very fast also in restoring itself to its standard composition.
In the elderly. In the elderly the gut microbiome becomes tendentially unstable, probably as consequence of the ageing process and of the increased rate of antibiotic treatment administration.
To restore the normal composition of the gut microbiome it is possible to use probiotic and prebiotic integrators, of which effects are now more than ever under scrutiny in order to explore possible long-term benefits.
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