The human colonic microbiota degrades dietary substrates that are indigestible in the upper GIT (gastrointestinal tract), releasing bacterial metabolites, some of which are important for gut health. Advances in molecular biology techniques have facilitated detailed analyses of the composition of the bacterial community resident in the lower GIT. Such analyses have indicated that more than 500 different bacterial species colonize an individual, and that, although there is much functional consistency in the resident bacterial groups, there is considerable inter-individual variation at the species/strain level. The bacterial community develops during early childhood until it reaches an adult-like composition. Whereas colonization and host factors influence the species composition, dietary factors also have an important impact, with specific bacterial groups changing in response to specific dietary interventions. Since bacterial species have different metabolic activities, specific diets have various consequences for health, dependent on the effect exerted on the bacterial population.
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August 2011
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Conference Article|
July 20 2011
Nutritional influences on the gut microbiota and the consequences for gastrointestinal health
Karen P. Scott;
Karen P. Scott
1
1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email k.scott@abdn.ac.uk).
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Sylvia H. Duncan;
Sylvia H. Duncan
1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, U.K.
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Petra Louis;
Petra Louis
1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, U.K.
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Harry J. Flint
Harry J. Flint
1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 07 2011
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (4): 1073–1078.
Article history
Received:
April 07 2011
Citation
Karen P. Scott, Sylvia H. Duncan, Petra Louis, Harry J. Flint; Nutritional influences on the gut microbiota and the consequences for gastrointestinal health. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2011; 39 (4): 1073–1078. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0391073
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