Chapter 18 - Effect of Synbiotic-Assisted Modulation of Gastrointestinal Microbiota on Human Health

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809762-5.00018-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract harbors around 1014–1015 bacteria per gram of its content. This microbiota is capable of responding to anatomical and physicochemical variations prevailing in the tract. Progress of research in this area since the last century or more revealed that the gut microbiota comprises three types of components, viz., pathogenic, benevolent, and advantageous. The composition and activity of the gut microbiota develop with the host from birth and depends on host nutrition, and lifestyle. It is involved in regulating metabolic pathways and physiologically connect the gut, liver, muscle, and brain. It is evident that the gut microbiota can be favorably modulated by synbiotic interventions to combat diseases and improve human health. Synbiotics is now being considered important tools to help maintain humans and animals in good health and in prevention and/or alternatives for reducing the risk associated with a number of diseases.

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