RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN
In children up to 3 years of age, upper tract repsiratory infections have a (…)
First, let’s line up what it is: by the term human microbiota we mean the set of microorganisms present inside and outside the human body and living in symbiosis with it. Specifically, when we talk about the gut microbiome we refer to the 40 trillion bacteria divided into about 400-4000 different species that populate our intestines and whose composition is highly individual and changes over the course of a lifetime. A composition so peculiar, it almost represents abiological fingerprint
So high is the interest in this ‘additional organ’ and its potential beneficial effects that the WGO – World Gastroenterology Organization – has selected the gut microbiome – representing the genetic makeup of the microbiota – as the focus of the 2020 campaign for World Digestive Health Day, held on May 28, 2020.
Demonstrating the degree to which the scientific community is involved in wanting to understand therelationships between a ‘balanced’ gut microbiota and broader health and well-being conditions, it is interesting to assess the number of clinical evidences on the topic generated in a decade..
Searching on Pubmed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), the most widely used search engine for finding scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals, one notices an exponential growth of articles: in 2010, 466 studies were published with ‘gut microbiota’ among their keywords; in 2020, we are up to more than 6500 publications.
Starting with the best-known effects on the digestive system, which is immediately affected by a condition of dysbiosis, i.e., non-equilibrium, the microbiota is able to make a contribution in a great many areas: metabolic (production of useful substances), support in certain enzymatic functions, elimination of toxic substances and stimulation of the immune system..
What to do at this time of year to keep the gut microbiota in balance and promote eubiosis? First take care of a balanced diet rich in seasonal fruits and vegetables, limit stress, and exercise regularly. If necessary, probiotics can be taken to promote gut flora balance.
